Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

They can interject all they want. They want to hide from the fact that Mr Abbott gave them one mission only: demolish the NBN. They want to make sure that those customers in Tasmania have their prices soar and their speeds reduced. The hours needed to finish this debate are critical. Fundamentally, as my colleague Senator Ludwig has indicated, Telstra shareholders want an end to the farce of this parliament. They want an end to your filibustering, they want an end to the uncertainty you have been hanging over their heads for 12 months. You have filibustered your way through the parliament. You have not even allowed bills to be debated. This extension of hours is vital to end the uncertainty that you have been creating for Telstra shareholders. Your conduct in this chamber is disgraceful, absolutely disgraceful. You have sought to increase, at every stage, the uncertainty for Telstra shareholders. The board of Telstra wants to bring on the extraordinary general meeting to vote on the deal, and you are stopping it. Those opposite, by opposing this extension of hours, are continuing to hang this uncertainty over Telstra shareholders’ heads, and they should be ashamed of themselves.