Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

The Senate really needs to think about the fact that we have a Senate chamber of which we should all be proud. It is a real privilege to serve the Australian community in our capacity as senators. However, what we have witnessed in the last few weeks is a level of personal abuse, nastiness and hatred that I have not witnessed in all the years that I have been in the Senate. I have never known the level of personal vitriol that has come across this chamber. There have been many occasions when senators could have, from the other side of the chamber, responded but have chosen not to and have risen above it.

What we have ended up with at the end of the year is a SLAPP suit from Senator Abetz, delivered by Senator Kroger, designed for a political outcome. It is unjust and is, in a serious way, compromising the whole process of privilege. As the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said a little while ago, 'The Privileges Committee is an incredibly serious thing,' and all we have had since then is an attempt by several senators—ranging from Senator Bernardi to Senator Macdonald to Senator Abetz—to get up in all of their speeches and use this opportunity to maintain a public case. It is wrong and unjust. (Time expired)

Question put:

That the motion (Senator Bob Brown's) be agreed to.

The Senate divided. [16:32]

(The President—Senator Hogg)

Question negatived.