Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Madam Acting Deputy President. I understand Senator Farrell gets a little sensitive whenever we talk about the South Australian election, because of course Senator Farrell would not have been here today. Senator Farrell would not have been in a position to be pursuing this legislation today because, ideally, Senator Farrell would have been elected as the new Labor member for the state seat of Napier on the weekend at the South Australian election. Unfortunately, for Senator Farrell—unfairly, may I say—as someone who has been more than a loyal servant to the Labor Party over many years, he was pushed aside in a shameful and blatant factional move by Premier Weatherill, that I am sure many of those opposite—

Senator Bilyk interjecting—

I am sure you, Senator Bilyk, think that Senator Farrell was treated unfairly, don't you?

Senator Bilyk interjecting—

In fairness, through you, Madam Acting Deputy President—

Senator Bilyk interjecting—