Trish Crossin (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise in response to the taking note of the answer this afternoon. I have to say I am a little disappointed, Senator Fifield, you are not taking note of the answer to Senator Mason's questions, but perhaps we will get on to debate about education at some other stage because we do it much better on this side of the chamber.

I am happy to talk about the impact of carbon pricing and particularly on small business. Senator Wong's contribution to this chamber day after day is diligent and thorough. What she does tire of is people on the opposition side continually asking her questions where the facts in their questions are inaccurate or they ask—as Senator Sinodinos did today for the modelling on small business to be tabled—and Senator Wong's response is, 'It has already been made public.' So again we get an opposition that are unprepared, have not done their research, are not really aware of what they are asking. If they had done just little bit of work with a little diligence they would have found that the modelling was a public document and perhaps would not have embarrassed themselves so badly by asking for it.

Senator Fifield stands up and gives us some examples of when he met businesses in the Dandenong region more than 12 months ago. It would be interesting, Senator Fifield, to go back and talk to those businesses now that the carbon legislation is through and those businesses are dealing with that legislation.