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

Chair, I make a couple of points. I understand Senator Gallacher's frustration. We get a lot of 'lying' accusations from the other side. I think your ruling is correct. If you look at precedents, past Presidents have ruled that an assertion that a group is lying doesn't have the same status as an assertion that an individual senator is lying. I personally don't quite understand the distinction but, as I understand the advice, that appears to be a distinction that has been observed—the former has been permissible and the latter hasn't. I would implore Senator Hanson-Young to recognise the Chair's request.