Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I will take that interjection from Senator Macdonald, who called me 'Precious Penny' again. He is very good at personal insults. As I said to him a number of years ago, my mother always did tell me I was precious, so I suppose he might be right—but I suspect she meant it in a different way. I want to make a few points. The opposition is keen that this come to a conclusion prior to question time. The second is that it was described as a stunt by the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Let everybody understand that this legislation is about—

Honourable senators interjecting—

The CHAIRMAN: There is a lot of noise coming from both sides of the chamber. I call the chamber to order.

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

The CHAIRMAN: Senator Macdonald, I have just called the chamber to order and I would appreciate your assistance in that request.

The few points I want to make are: first, that the opposition is keen to bring this to a conclusion prior to question time; second, that the bill that Senator Abetz describes as a stunt is about holding the government to a promise it made to South Australians and to workers in Western Australia and in the 2,200 companies across Australia who have contracts with the Australian Submarine Corporation that it would—

A government senator interjecting—

The CHAIRMAN: Order! Again, I call the chamber to order.