Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

Is it seriously being suggested by those opposite that the party of children overboard are going to lecture us on human rights? That is a remarkable proposition. The people who supported children overboard—those who pursued that as a matter of policy—are now claiming that they are suddenly interested in human rights? What a preposterous suggestion. Senator Cash's question is offensive. It is offensive to suggest that that is what the government is about, given the history of that party and given its appalling involvement in the abuse of human rights throughout this whole issue.