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

Whenever you do not have any questions to ask, resort to political rhetoric. There is no substance to Senator Abetz's question, like there is no substance to the opposition, no substance at all. Political rhetoric and fearmongering is all they have. They have nothing to offer to political debate in this country. The first question time for the week, the first question of the week, and what do we get? Political rhetoric, no substance, no contribution to public policy debate in this country, just the petty point-scoring that served Senator Abetz well in student politics apparently, which he has never matured from, never come forward from. There are important public policy issues at stake in this country, like education reform, health reform and job creation. They are the focus for this government. I urge the opposition to engage in some serious debate about those issues.