David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice and Customs) Share this | Hansard source

I congratulate Senator Stott Despoja on addressing ADFA last night. I suggested that the topic she was to talk about should be entitled ‘to fight and win’. I think she may well have rejected that theme at ADFA. Nevertheless, I congratulate her on going into the lion’s den, to some extent, to teach good things to the people at ADFA.

I might also say, in not such a harmonious spirit, that every time the government does something in terms of a budget initiative, the crossbenches and the opposition call it a pork barrel. Due consideration by the government is entitled a failure to act, and when we seek national consistency it is called a power grab. Let us address the facts. Can we take some of the emotive politics out of it? I know we are getting to the end of the cycle, but can we maintain some semblance of balance? This amendment is totally unnecessary. Section 11 clearly sets out the provisions that deal with this issue. The government does not support the amendment.

Question negatived.