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

We heard Senator Cormann on his feet talking about the democratic process. Well, there is nothing democratic about the biggest changes to our electoral laws in 30 years being rammed through the Senate in a matter of days. There is nothing democratic about a sham inquiry—a show trial—that the government and Senator Rhiannon want to stage. There is nothing democratic about that.

I look forward to it because I anticipate and hope that everybody listening and watching will watch as the Greens—the great champions of transparency; the great champions of our democracy!—will vote with the Liberals to ensure this does not go to a proper inquiry. And, for all their fine words over years and years about the need for this chamber to properly inquire into legislation and to properly consider all of these matters, what we will see is Senator Lee Rhiannon, who has done this deal, and all of her colleagues walking over to this side to vote with the government to do over a proper inquiry.

The amendment moved by Senator Moore simply wants an inquiry to report by 12 May. This is not an unreasonable proposition.

This is the largest change in 30 years. They keep going on and saying, 'This has been debated and debated.' When was this legislation introduced into parliament? Was it Monday or Tuesday? It was this week—and they want to ram it through. They have rushed this so much that they have not even got the legislation right. The government had to bring amendments into the House because they forgot to put a provision in that the votes be counted on the night! 'Oops! No voting on the night—no counting on the night!' That is how rushed this is.