Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to oppose this motion because it will disrupt a very important function of the Senate. On Wednesdays, we have an opportunity to give senators' statements, as they are now known. There is an hour and a quarter in which we are able to make explanations of circumstances that have taken place or to represent things on behalf of our constituents. Today in that senators' statements debate—and it is for a slightly selfish reason—I wanted to thank a member of the Labor Party, which I will be unable to do if this motion to vary business is passed.

The reason for my thanking a member of the Labor Party relates to my belief that I was subject to a grave injustice last week, when some things that I questioned during a Senate committee inquiry were grossly misrepresented and, I would say, in a defamatory manner—and which were not supported by any of the Hansards available—suggesting that somehow I condone domestic violence. It was a grotesque slur. Of course, it was allowed to ride by those in the Greens party, who knew it was not true. It was also fuelled by people like Tim Watts MP. Now, I did not even know there was an MP called Tim Watts. But, apparently, he is on Twitter, using vile and disgusting language, making all sorts of allegations and accusations. I looked him up and I saw some bloke who has more product in his hair than Vidal Sassoon. He was making all of these sorts of allegations without even having been there. It was disgusting. It was grotesque. This is a bloke who is seeking to make some sort of name for himself via Twitter, by appealing to the twitterati, or whatever they call themselves.