Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

It took a whole minute or more for Senator Faulkner to think of that interjection. Of course what it shows is the gross hypocrisy of the Leader of the Australia Labor Party, who ran and helped run the defence of Craig Thomson without any concern whatsoever other than the capacity to cling to power. Let us make the point very clear: that the Labor Party cannot come into this place making the sorts of assertions that they have tried to in relation to my very good friend Senator Arthur Sinodinos, a man by whom I am very proud to stand.

Senator Sinodinos, voluntarily stood aside for the purposes of ICAC. I think all of us are disappointed that ICAC in New South Wales is taking longer than might otherwise have been expected. Due process will take its course. But can I simply say that Senator Sinodinos enjoys, more importantly, not only the confidence of myself but also all of his Senate colleagues.