Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I really do look forward to contributing to this debate today on the MPI. When I saw it on the Notice Paper this morning, I thought it was a joke. I thought it could not be possible that the Liberals would gift us this fantastic opportunity to talk about what great stuff we have done in the north. But before I do, I want to talk about being called to apologise because I called Senator Macdonald a few things, which I retracted in this chamber. It did hurt me to have to retract them because I still stand by them. I will have a fight with anyone in here on any issue—hang on, I probably should not say 'have a fight' or I will get sooks from the House of Representatives, like Dennis Jensen, saying I am threatening to bop them. I should say that I am happy to have a debate.

One thing I cannot cop and will not cop is senators on that side blatantly telling lies. That happened earlier today at the start of this conversation. When I hear Liberal senators—look, this is cruelty to dumb animals; it really is having to listen to some of the fibs coming out here—