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

But lThe amendment that the opposition have circulated, that we are proposing, delays the commencement of the provisions of this bill until 19 July. That would prevent the government from relying on this system in a double-d election. The last day the Prime Minister can ask the Governor-General to simultaneously dissolve the House and the Senate for a double dissolution election is 11 May, and, under the Commonwealth Electoral Act, polling day cannot be any later than 68 days after the dissolution of the parliament. That takes you to 18 July. So if the legislation does not come in until 19 July the government cannot use this legislation in a double dissolution. And this is what they need; this is what they want for a double dissolution. You are saying, 'Oh well, they can hold it at any time,' while giving them the keys to the double dissolution, giving them what they want to hold it. And then you refuse to deal with—

Senator Whish-Wilson interjecting—

Senator Whish-Wilson is trying to run a political argument. The key for a double dissolution election is this legislation. That is the case, and the Greens are refusing to explain to progressive voters across the country why they are risking the abolition of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the passage of anti-worker legislation. And no amount of huffing and puffing from Senator Lee Rhiannon about how progressive she is, how pro-worker she is and how bad we are can get around that question, which she has refused to answer. She might want to lay into me—that is fine. But the question I am asking is the one that union officials and members all over the country are asking: why are you selling them out, and why are you not giving them an explanation as to why you cannot support 19 July? I will tell you. I will hazard an answer. If the senator wants to tell me that this is wrong then she should get up and say it. She cannot, because they did a deal without thinking this through. She cannot change the start date because they did not think it through. Mr Bandt knows that. Everybody in this place knows that he understands it. And I am sure all of you have become apprised of it since.

The problem is: you did not think about it. You cut a deal with Senator Cormann before you had worked out the dates, and then suddenly you realised, 'Oh my goodness me! Oh dear! I've just enabled Mr Turnbull to abolish the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and pass antiworker legislation at a joint sitting!' I mean, come in spinner! Senator Mathias Cormann could not have believed his luck, I am sure. He did not even put up a start date. Did you even ask them to give a commitment? I would not believe it, but did you ask them to give any commitment, should they win, about what would go to a joint sitting?

No amount of personal attack on me or the Labor Party gets away—

An honourable senator interjecting—

It is fine. I am up for argy-bargy. I get that there is argy-bargy in this chamber. But I am saying to you: no amount of argy-bargy here gets you out of that question, and you are not answering it.