Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I do not think that comment has been made, but let us not get bogged down on that. Senator Lundy said that we are tapping into sentiment. The only reason that we took this policy to the last election was because of the anger coming from the military superannuants in relation to their unfair treatment. That is the only reason that that was in our policy at the last election. We saw a situation that needed to be addressed having been approached by those who were being treated unfairly. That is why it is in our policy, so do not talk to me about coming at the 11th hour in relation to this matter. We have been absolutely and utterly consistent about this. Not only did we respond when we were approached in relation to this matter but we put in our election policy and we have the bill before the chamber today. Senator Lundy said that we have tapped into sentiment but have no solution. We have a solution all right, and I have a solution for Senator Lundy—vote for it. That is the solution for Senator Lundy.

Senator Bob Brown's comments were in typical style for him, but I will not reflect on that. The interesting part is that this 'fake amendment', as I would call it, was moved by Senator Brown on 24 March. Guess the date of the email from the senator's staff member to one of the superannuants confirming their commitment—28 March. Senator Brown, I think you should be very careful when you come in here and start bandying around that political twaddle when you actually fell at the first hurdle by your going back completely on commitments that you made.

I congratulate Senator Humphries and turn to a motion moved by my good friend and colleague the shadow minister who has responsibility for this, the member for Fadden, Mr Stuart Robert. I congratulate him on a motion that went through the House last week, moved by Mr Robert, which was supported on the voices. The motion was:

That this House:

…   …   …

(2) calls on all Members to support the:

…   …   …

(b) Coalition's policy to index the military pensions to members of the DRRDB and DFRB schemes who are aged 55 and over, to the higher movements in the CPI, Male Total Average Weekly Earnings or the Pensioner Beneficiary Living Cost Index.

Did the government oppose this in the other place? Did they oppose it downstairs? No, they did not. Why did they not? Because they were concerned that if they went for a vote they would lose it and they would be obligated when it came back here to support it. What a deceitful action on behalf of these 30,000 people who deserve this indexation. What a deceitful government you are, Minister Wong. You had the opportunity downstairs to stake your claim about your view, and you know why you did not do it downstairs? You were concerned that the motion would go through on the voices, you would see where the Independents were and, when it came back up here, you thought you had a commitment from one of the Independents that he was going to vote this legislation down. What a dishonourable approach to take in relation to this matter. The government has been caught absolutely red-handed in its duplicitous behaviour in relation to this bill.

It is not good enough to talk to me about making sure we limit speakers and then attack the coalition for not having Senator Minchin and Senator Cormann in here. Please do not play politics when you have already made a request in relation to how many speakers there are going to be. I want to make it absolutely clear that if you think the indignation of these 30,000 super­annuants is feigned then you stand utterly condemned for that comment. Their indignation in relation to this is real.