David Feeney (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I did not interrupt the barrages I have been confronted with, Senator Cash. You might do the same.

Senator Cash interjecting—

Or you might not. Let me simply make this point, Senator Brandis. You have deliberately as a ruthless political stratagem sought to obstruct this government, you have sought to obstruct this government's capacity to have legislation that enables its solutions. You have denigrated and destroyed wherever possible the Malaysia Solution, a proposal this government says would have dealt with the people smuggler model. You have conducted yourself in a way so as to ruthlessly exploit this issue for every vote you think that it might bequeath you. And to have done all of that and then lay the tragic dead of those dreadful tragedies at Senator Evans's feet—who, as you said, is a fine upstanding member of this place—is a disgrace. I am sure it will be thought of as such by everyone listening to this debate.