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

The arrogant Leader of the Government in the Senate continues to interject. We said we would vote against this package, as we have done. That does not mean that we are opposed to every single possible package that might be put to us. We have already indicated the sorts of parameters of a package that would be within the nation’s interests without putting a huge burden of debt on future generations—and that has been our concern. That is what we have dealt into the discussion and we have been ignored by the government, arrogantly so. Tonight they are left with egg on their faces. They should have engaged in discussion and relied on our good nature, but the reality is that, having been so dogmatic about it, they have been unable to get a majority of senators. The coalition does not have a majority of senators in this place.