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

The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence has just said—

A government senator: That's the one!

Gee, you're on the ball today, aren't you, old fellow? You're right on the mark. You picked that up straight away. The parliamentary secretary has just indicated to us that we had two wasted divisions today while we ascertained what the advice from the ex-service organisations was. Guess what? One of those divisions occurred before you gave the RSL the document you are talking about, so that was a waste, was it? Consultation was a waste—when it was done before you sent them the material, sent them the addendum? That was a waste, was it? I am glad you think that consultation is a waste! I am glad you think that the RSL and the Vietnam veterans federation and Legacy are also a waste, because that is implicit in your comment! That is what you are saying. We wasted time this morning while you ascertained two very simple things. The first one was whether the RSL and the Vietnam veterans federation had been consulted. The second one was what their response was. And we got their response 15 minutes ago, which actually postdated the other of the divisions that you are talking about.

Please do not come in here and effectively reflect on the bona fides of those ex-service organisations. If you cannot get your act together, if you rely on the Australian Greens, your partners in crime, to carry you, you will come unstuck every single time. Every single time, they will bring you unstuck, because what they say and what they do are two entirely different matters.

Parliamentary Secretary, I am looking forward to our discussing this again later this afternoon, and I am looking forward to your providing me with the information this chamber should have been given at 10 o'clock this morning—that is, what was the level of consultation, who was it with and what was the outcome of those deliberations? I said to you at 10 past 10 this morning and I gave you an undertaking at least two hours ago that, if you satisfy this chamber that you have had the consultations and you can satisfy the chamber—if you are telling this chamber—that the people whom you are asking to sign up to this and to whom you had not given the benefit of the document are supportive, we will support this measure. Do not talk about wasting divisions. Do not talk about abuse of due process. Do not rely on the Australian Greens to do your job for you. Get out and consult. Do what you should be doing. Deal with the RSL and Legacy and the Vietnam veterans federation in the manner in which they would expect to be dealt with; they deserve absolutely no less. If the President is here, I will sit down. I presume we are now holding this matter over, Mr Temporary Chairman.

Progress reported.