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

Thank you, Mr President. I am glad Senator Crossin actually stood up. I do not know how long Senator Crossin has been in this place, but she has had opportunity after opportunity to do exactly what the member for Solomon, Natasha Griggs, has done. The member for Solomon has achieved more in 12 months than Senator Crossin has achieved in I don't know how many years in this place. You had the same opportunity to do what she has done, and now you are trying to claim false credit for it.

Full marks to the member for Solomon, and I ask Senator Crossin again: are you going to pick up the phone to the veterans' affairs minister, Mr Snowdon, and demand of him that in the other place the Australian Labor Party support Natasha Griggs's private member's motion? She has done it in 12 months; Senator Crossin and the veterans' affairs minister have not done it—and in his case he has had over 20 years. Congratulations. It is remarkable.

Senator Crossin interjecting—

Senator Carol Brown interjecting—

I think the shouting from across the other side is tinged with an element of guilt. It is the guilt of inaction, guilt driven by the fact that someone in this place—namely, Senator Crossin—has had years to do exactly what the member for Solomon has done but has not done so. And now we are hearing these bleatings of false credit: 'Oh, I made a speech in relation to that.' You are from the Northern Territory, so of course you would have made a speech in relation to the bombing of Darwin. But you did not move the motion.