Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

Because the Labor bill was an inadequate bill. Our job is to pass good legislation, not inadequate legislation.

The thing I'm really disappointed about is that there was an opportunity here for us to pursue, in a genuinely bipartisan fashion, a resolution that would have broad community support. Instead, what the Labor Party is clearly intent on doing—they're not interested in a policy solution—is using this as a partisan political weapon. That is what you're trying to do!

If you were interested in pursuing an actual policy solution you would sit down with the government to explore opportunities for a reasonable compromise. If the Labor Party hasn't got it in it to pursue a compromise, then I would urge the crossbench to rise to the occasion and come together with the government to ensure that the reforms we pass here, removing discrimination against students before the end of the parliamentary sitting year, can be done in a way that doesn't expose religious schools to inappropriate risk in terms of litigation. (Time expired)