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

All right, I'm happy to say that they were spoken. Our position on this motion does not reflect at all a view that that was appropriate. I am advised—obviously I've only just come into the chamber—that Senator O'Sullivan was asked to withdraw, and he did. As a party of government, we have always made clear, often in difficult circumstances such as today, that in opposition and in government we support the procedures of the Senate and have always supported rulings of the President of the day. It is clear from the advice that I was provided that Senator Di Natale was given an opportunity to withdraw by the Senate and refused to do so. In those circumstances—and we would apply this across the chamber—the opposition is left with no option but to support the chair in their reasonable exercise of standing orders. I do make clear again that nothing in the opposition's actions today in any way endorses the statement that was made by Senator O'Sullivan in this chamber, which I and the opposition regard as reprehensible.