Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Burston, I haven't accused you of anything yet. Wait for this. Let's go back to the article in TheSydney Morning Herald, where, as I said, you're accused of misleading parliament in your maiden speech, when you said to this chamber, and to honourable senators in here, and to all those listening, that you 'lectured in teacher education at Newcastle University'. It is on the Hansard. But, Senator Burston, I believe you were caught out when Newcastle university said that it had 'no record of Brian Burston ever being employed'. What did come out of it, Senator Burston—and take a point of order and scream me down through the Acting Deputy President if I'm wrong, or if I'm misleading honourable senators, or the Senate, or those who may be listening—is that it's true that you were actually a TAFE diploma of teaching lecturer at the Newcastle College of Advanced Education. So, one would think, and we should all think, Senator Burston, that you thought you were being a little bit tricky or that you could've got away with the comment because the university and TAFE amalgamated six years after you lectured there. Senator Burston, that's a very inglorious contribution that you made on your first time in here. I haven't seen Senator Burston or anyone else jump up to scream me down and say that I'm presenting misleading information to the Senate, because I know darn well I'm not. To quote an old saying: the silence is deafening.

We've heard from other senators today—from Senator Watt and Senator Gallacher—and it's a well-known fact that, if you're going to start throwing rocks in this place, you'd better make sure your own backyard is very, very, clear, very clean and very, very far away from any accusations of cheating. It is a well-known fact, as to One Nation, through this nation, that there's still an investigation by the Electoral Commission into the use of a privately supplied plane that, at one stage, Senator Hanson's chief of staff said he owned. Then we found out it was actually owned by a gentleman called, I think, Mr William McNee, a property developer. I think he threw $50,000-odd at the One Nation campaign. The more I go on—I really, really wish that I had 20 minutes. Senator Burston, you have just made a complete and absolute goog of yourself.

Question agreed to.