Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

It is my opinion and that is why I am making this point, Senator Brown. You are right out of order. You spoke complete nonsense. It is confected outrage. When the Senate is abused by the government, which it is on many occasions, it is important we raise those issues. But to raise them spuriously only undermines your and my concerns about what the government is doing. So quite clearly, in my view, there is no case today. The President of the Senate ought to be granted leave. Any other senator who wants to attend ought to be given consideration by the Senate in relation to pairing and we will seek to effect that.

I point out that the decision on Friday was agreed by all parties at a leaders and whips meeting, and Senator Minchin showed more respect for our needs than Senator Hill used to and at least gave us some more warning than we used to get. I just do not think there is a case, Senator Brown. Sometimes I do not agree with the President’s rulings at question time. He seems particularly harsh on the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, in my view. He should have ruled Senator Ferris’s point of order as no point of order very early, I would have thought, but, nevertheless, there is no reason to oppose or to criticise the President for seeking leave.