Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I must say I agree with the bulk of Senator Ludlam's position here this morning, but I do not agree with him in relation to the position that the member for Wentworth, Malcolm Turnbull, is taking on the NBN. Malcolm Turnbull is there simply doing what his leader has told him to do, and that is to destroy the NBN. I find it quite interesting that the former leader of the Liberal Party, Malcolm Turnbull, who is supposed to be the great business expert and the great tech­nological expert in the coalition, has allowed himself to be bullied by one of the biggest bullies in town—that is, the Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott. I think it is about time—

Senator Birmingham interjecting—

Senator Birmingham, I think your position is even worse than Malcolm Turnbull's, because it is clear what Senator Ludlam said: you profess to understand what the technology will deliver, you profess to be a modern, forward-thinking Liberal—I think that is an oxymoron, by the way; I do not think there is such a thing—and you profess to understand these issues, yet you are part of the team—

Senator Birmingham interjecting—

Now, you do not have to get too snaky about it, Senator Birmingham. You are part of the team that has set out to try and destroy what is one of the best, most innovative and most econom­ically responsible projects ever undertaken in this country.