Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is very interesting listening to Senator Macdonald's contribution to this important report, because, on the one hand, he protests that this inquiry was a complete waste of time and delivered no evidence worth listening to, but, on the other hand, he likes to point out that he barely participated in the inquiry. I suppose that just reflects the level of contempt that he is increasingly showing for the committees of the Senate and the important work that they do.

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

He is sitting over there interjecting right now, despite the fact that I listened in complete silence to his contribution. Again, it just reflects the disruptive and disrespectful attitude that he has to committees. There is no better example than the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, which he chairs, which has become a complete farce under his leadership. There is not one hearing of that committee that Senator Macdonald can chair these days without it descending into uproar in reaction to the way that he conducts himself in that committee as the chair. It is no wonder that so many senators on his own side of the chamber are embarrassed by his behaviour. He really should have a good, hard look at how he approaches these committees. He wants to be regarded as the Father of the Senate, a position of respect, and yet he behaves in a more childish manner than any other senator in this entire chamber. He has lost the respect of every single senator in this chamber.

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

He continues to interject now. He really needs to have, as I say, a good, hard look at his behaviour. If he wants to get the respect that someone who is the Father of the Senate gets—

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

There he goes interjecting again, because he is incapable of controlling himself. If he wants to have the respect that one would think that the Father of the Senate—or the Mother of the Senate, should there ever be a female in that position—would hold then he will need to radically change his behaviour and the way that he treats witnesses and other senators going forward.

Government senators interjecting—

We will miss you, Senator Back, unlike Senator Macdonald.