Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The comment just now was from a man who does not even respect the uniform of our defence forces. The people of Australia should know that the opposition's spokesman on defence disrespects the uniform that our servicemen wear.

This is a difficult matter. The Labor Party, in determining these things, should remember that they actually had pay increases for the defence forces less than CPI on two occasions. They cut money out of the Defence Force budget. These matters should be known to those who might be listening to the debate. These matters should be known to Senator Lambie, who has been played by the Labor Party like, as my colleague said, an accordion.

These are difficult issues. I am delighted that the government has returned the leave entitlements that the Remuneration Tribunal took away. I congratulate my colleagues who represent the electorates where the defence forces are most prominent. They, and I as a senator based in the garrison city of Townsville, understand these issues. We also understand the $1 billion a month that the Labor Party's debt is costing Australians—$1 billion a month in borrowed money to pay off the interest on the debt that Labor ran up.

These are difficult situations. I know Senator Johnston and the Prime Minister are addressing the issues. It is important that we actually allow these processes to take place. We should proceed today with the agenda that has been set out for the parliament and which was agreed upon, I understand, by all parties. This interruption will not go anywhere. We should stick by the agenda that has been placed before the parliament for the last two days of this sittings.

I will not delay the Senate any further. I conclude by again reminding anyone who might be following this debate that Labor, on two occasions, had a Defence pay increase that was less than CPI. Where was Senator Lambie then? Where was she then? It did not seem to worry her then. Where was Senator Lambie when Senator Stephen Conroy, the opposition spokesman on defence, insulted a distinguished senior serving officer of our defence forces? Where was Senator Lambie then? This is, again, the sheer hypocrisy of the Labor Party when it comes to defence issues. We should not agree to delay the agenda of the parliament.