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

I appreciate the support of the crossbenchers—Senator Storer, Centre Alliance, the Australian Greens and Senator Hinch, who have sought to work on a cross-party basis to try and deal with an issue that Australians have wanted us to deal with, which is children on Nauru. I don't think anybody watching this would have doubted that the senators from those parties were working together, and nor would anyone have doubted the tactics from those opposite who knew they did not have the majority on the floor of the House of Representatives and have yet again used this Senate to prevent a message going back.

It is the case that we do have a difference of views with the Australian Greens, and I suspect most of the crossbench, on the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Bill—I think that is a matter of record—but, insofar as Senator Di Natale's criticism in relation to the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill and the attempt we have all jointly made to deal with the children on Nauru, I don't think criticism is reasonable.

I think the Labor Party has sought, in tactic after tactic in this place, to try and facilitate that bill, and it is an indictment on the government and really a demonstration of their fragility that they would rather send the House home than ensure that either that bill was returned or, in fact, a national security bill, which is important ahead of Christmas for our agencies to have those capabilities, was returned. Senator Molan knows this, and he also knows that we had agreement around amendments. If the guillotine which I have moved were passed, the House would only have had to stay for a very short period after it has now adjourned. I really do want to say again: I think that is a real indictment that politics has come before national security for the coalition. That's how desperate they are.