Barry O'Sullivan (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, fortunately for me—and I recommend that everyone in this place, as they want to make a determination of what was said in the course of that debate, go and read the Hansard very, very carefully. I resiled from nothing that I said—

Senator Whish-Wilson interjecting—

Just one moment. I did withdraw it. When you read the Hansard, you will see that I denied the connotation placed on my words, but I withdrew it to assist the chair. I set the scene in my speech. The speech was about Senator Hanson-Young. I said two things. One is about how she co-sponsored a reference committee and then didn't turn up. That is No. 1. Secondly, how did she deal with that? She comes in today to take up the time of the Senate with a motion in this place to debate it to get a grandstand on broadcasting day. They were the actions of Senator Nick Xenophon. That's exactly champagne. I won't repeat my comments to her. You look at them in the context of what I've just said. I could not have prepared it. My debate was around her behaviour and it reflected on the fact that she reflected the operations, if you like, of Senator Nick Xenophon in more than one way. You can do what you will with it. I don't feel one bit of embarrassment about the reference I made. I did withdraw it to assist the chair. They are the ones who placed the connotation on it. This happens every day with this crowd. They're the ones who put some identification around it. They spoke even before they thought. I ask you to go to the Hansard, reflect on my speech, my contribution in the debate, reflect on what I said, put the two together, and you will arrive where I have guided you to. I did not make an imputation on Senator Hanson-Young in the manner that they have described.