Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

In fact, I want these interjections to be taken and I will respond to them so Hansard can record them, because what they show absolutely clearly is the arrogance of the Leader of the Government in the Senate, who was in this place seven days ago demanding that this legislation be passed—at that stage, within 24 hours—because if it was not the whole package would collapse and things, as in moneys, would not be able to be passed out. That has now been exposed as being wrong. Whether it was wilfully wrong we will never know, because we have asked on what advice that assertion was based and we still have not been provided with that information.

But having had this difficulty all week I suggest that Senator Evans, unable to respond to that direct question, takes a deep breath and allows the government to regroup with the opposition and others to see if some sensible conclusion can be obtained. With all the best will in the world, I think every Australian would agree that, the Senate having defeated this package tonight, there will not be a resolution to the matter within the next 15 hours. The discussions that need to take place ought to take place, might I add, behind closed doors’ as in fact happened with Senator Bob Brown and his discussions with the government. They were not undertaken in this chamber; they had good working discussions, as I understood Senator Sherry and Senator Brown told us. We are inviting them to have those sorts of discussions with us but in a proper manner.