Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia) Share this | Hansard source

I want to use my couple of minutes to emphasise what I heard both Senator Dr Robert James Brown and Senator Xenophon say in this debate and that is that they both want a full and open debate on the NBN proposal. There are a hell of a lot of amendments to be dealt with and they need to be properly scrutinised, so I again emphasise to the parliament that both Senator Brown and Senator Xenophon have guaranteed a full, open and accountable debate, which means that neither of them will be moving the gag motion and neither of them, nor their parties and followers, will be supporting the gag debate at any time during the debate on the NBN. I want to emphasise that. Thank you, Senator Brown, and thank you, Senator Xenophon, for indicating there will be a full and open debate, which means you will not be moving and you will not be supporting a gag motion. The Greens, since time immemorial, have railed against the imposition of gags. I am sure they will not change their mind; otherwise, Senator Brown would be called a hypocrite.