Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Like my South Australian colleagues I am disappointed that we have to be here today to debate the Defence Legislation Amendment (Woomera Prohibited Area) Bill 2013. The substance of the bill is obviously supported by the coalition, but we cannot support it. We do not want our opposition to the bill to reflect, in any way, shape or form, that we do not support the release of this area for the benefit of all South Australians.

At the risk of provoking a point of order, I, too, would like to acknowledge Senator Farrell's commitment to this issue. He is obviously very passionate about seeing the development of South Australia. He will be a great loss to South Australia when he leaves this place. It is very disappointing that the contribution that he was offering to make in South Australia, when he put his hand up to assist in the South Australian parliament, was not greeted with the same level of genuine belief that the Liberal Party in South Australia met it with. Instead, we will not be seeing Senator Farrell.