Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Sorry; Senator Edwards—who, may I say, is looking remarkably handsome now that he has shaved off his moustache. Senator Di Natale is doing this at the first opportunity, the first sit down and, I hate to say it, the first date—faults and everything. So we have a situation where the entire leverage of this movement and what this campaign had been building towards, with all the work that had been done over two full years now not only by the Labor Party—and the Labor Party played a very big role—but also people like Christine Milne, community groups, activities and movements everywhere has been sold out.

I am going to have a lot to say today about how some of these groups feel about it all. He has gone to all of them and said, 'I'm going to fold on the first opportunity I get. I'm going to fold because it is easier to fold.' Yes, Senator Di Natale, it is always easier to cop out. It is always easier to give up on principle. It is always easier to say, 'You know what? They are a bunch of really powerful companies and the government here is playing a big role in protecting them, and the easiest thing for me to do is just to have the debate go away.' It is disappointing, it is disgusting and it is horrible that someone who professes to actually be passionate about these issues, who professes to care about these issues, who professes that these issues are a priority for them and their political party would come into this chamber and sell out on this point of principle.