Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The answer to the last part of the question is no, Mr President. I remind the Senator that to develop policy or come to conclusions purely based on what a couple of journalists have written or said is not a very sound approach, because as I understand it, Mr President, all those journalists are agreed on one other matter—that is, that the Liberal opposition are a complete rabble, that they are divided, that they are undermining their leader, that Senator Minchin is in open revolt in defiance of his leader and that they are a standing joke in Australian politics. If Senator Back wants to rely on the combined opinions of certain journalists, I refer him to their views on his and his colleagues’ performance. Senator, none of this is a replacement for development of sound policy and prosecution of that policy. (Time expired)