Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Local Government) Share this | Hansard source

My question is also to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Campbell. Does the minister recall asserting in question time yesterday that critics of the access card were:

… on the side of the fraudsters, on the side of the rorters—

and:

… they do not seem to mind that the existing system does create fraud.

Why is the minister so arrogant as to try and stamp out any debate about the access card, as he did by only allowing a truncated Senate inquiry into the proposal? Aren’t serious concerns about the access card being raised not just by Labor but also by the government’s own backbench, including Bronwyn Bishop, Steve Ciobo and Mal Washer? Does the minister think that Mr Ciobo, Mrs Bishop and Dr Washer are also:

… on the side of the fraudsters, on the side of the rorters—

simply because he does not agree with them?