Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I was not seeking to offend, Senator Ronaldson. Even though I am not required to, because what I said was not unparliamentary, I accept your admonishment, Senator Ronaldson, and I withdraw the aspersions that Tony Nutt is tossing around.

As I was saying, after 11½ years of stonewalling, of refusing point blank to any degree of accountability, the Labor Party comes forward with a package for enhanced independence and the Liberal Party decides that they want to take a couple of cheap political shots and put forward an amendment. As I said, Senator Fielding, I absolutely accept that you have had a consistent position on this, just as you and Senator Murray have had a consistent position of merit based appointments, for instance. But those opposite voted down Senator Murray on each and every occasion that he put that forward. We at least had the gumption to stand up and say no. Senator Murray was keeping his list of best refusals over many years, but if those opposite choose to vote for this, as you thought that they might, it would truly go down as one of the most hypocritical acts seen in this chamber in some years, because each and every time in the past it has been voted down. We will maintain our consistent position, which is that we will not support the proposition put forward. But if those opposite have suddenly discovered a new policy vision in the direction that they are going, then they will stand judged by the Australian public for being the hypocrites that they are.