Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Only someone completely and utterly owned by the trade union movement, such as Senator Cameron, could say they will all be cheering. What a remarkable comment from someone who simply does not understand and who has never understood small business, does not want to understand small business and does not want to see the due processes of this place followed. A really silly interjection like that adds nothing to the debate.

When an opposition are given at least six months, and probably 12 months, to have some constructive input into a policy and they refuse, then they have abrogated their right to be included in the debate. But they should not, through their duplicitous language and handwringing, have abrogated the right of those on the crossbench to discuss this matter further. This is a really sad day for this place. I intend reminding each and every one of you who have destroyed some of our fundamental rights, such as the right to ask questions during question time, about this for as long as I am in this place. The Australian Greens and the Labor Party cannot ever come into this place bleating about due process again, because today they denied themselves the right to a place at the discussion table in relation to due process. They destroyed that right and today they have collectively destroyed the good governance of the Senate of Australia.