Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I need to make a couple of observations in the debate on Senator Anning's amendment. The first is to reflect on the second reading contribution of Senator Cameron. He got up and he quoted Gough Whitlam. He said:

Certainly, the impotent are pure.

Of course, if Senator Cameron knew his Labor Party history, he would know this was Gough Whitlam smashing into the left wing of the Labor Party as hard as he could, giving it to the left wing of the Labor Party as hard as he could and demeaning the left wing of the Labor Party by suggesting, in fact, that by their policy purity they were, of course, making themselves impotent.

Let's look at Senator Cameron's comment and, in fact, former Prime Minister Whitlam's comment in light of what's happening here in the Senate right now. Of course, we've got a situation whereby, if Labor had actually stayed true—if they had stayed pure—we could have knocked this legislation off. But, by selling out, copping out and negotiating migration policy with the racists and xenophobes in this chamber, Labor have joined the queue to do over migrants in this country.

We know that FECCA, the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia, do not support this dirty deal that Labor stitched up. We know that ACOSS do not support this dirty deal that Labor has stitched up. We know that, because a letter signed by Dr Cassandra Goldie on behalf of ACOSS and Mr Mohammad Al-Khafaji on behalf of FECCA—

Senator Anning interjecting—

You really are not worthy of your place in this chamber, mate. You really are a grub of the highest order.