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

Of course, the deputy leader was not here, and he says it is a conspiracy theory. I do not think it is a conspiracy theory from what I hear coming out of the cabinet at this stage—talk about a leaky boat. Senator Conroy was not here for a good reason, and you can look around and see the looks on the faces of those who know this is wrong. You can see them saying to themselves: 'I wish I was anyway else but here. I wish I could swap places with the deputy leader, Senator Conroy, who was not here.'

I will finish on this note. There is a unique opportunity for the Labor Party to finally lock it in now, so we can spend the next two years not debating this fact but going through on the back of reality—one member of the Australian Labor Party could stand up and say, 'If we go to the polls and we lose, we will vote with you to get rid of this toxic tax.' It is your call. It is your obligation, and we demand you do so—as do the Australian people.