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

If Senator McKim wants to interject in that arrogant style, he might actually take his proper seat in the chamber. There is nothing grumpy about seeking to defend the wonderful work of hundreds of thousands of Australian volunteers who dedicate themselves to the service of Australian charities, helping the poor, the needy and the oppressed in our community. To say that the defence of that somehow makes you grumpy—I would wear that as a badge of honour for and on behalf of all those people that do dedicate themselves and their money to these very vital charities.

Sadly, we have had no answer from the Australian Labor Party or the Australian Greens in relation to what they believe the policy position ought be in relation to the rights of these charities to retain their beliefs and still be the beneficiaries of public support to enable them to engage in the vast public good in which they involve themselves.