Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—Senator Abetz made a very eloquent case in relation to the sanctimony and hypocrisy of the Greens on a similar occasion, but I just thought it was important to show for the Hansard record what Senator Brown previously said on such an occasion, when it was the opposition—the coalition—who were in that position. What Senator Brown said on that occasion was:

However, this does show the opposition is in some disarray. It was absolutely known that this critical vote would be on this afternoon. It is a commentary on the opposition and the internal cohesion of the opposition that a senator could miss such a vital vote.

If on that occasion it was a commentary on the internal cohesion of the opposition, it is no less a commentary today on the internal cohesion of Senator Brown’s party. Senator Brown is well known for his sanctimony, but Senator Ludlam is, I think, cut from a different cloth. So I think we are quite understanding of Senator Ludlam, and we hope that this has been a lesson for Senator Brown in particular.