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

As I indicated yesterday, I fundamentally disagree with some of the views that he has expressed and that you have now related to the chamber. In fact, I object to those views. But I would also make the general point to just further what I've indicated in the primary answer—and I've written this in the letter to the Senate President earlier today too—that the government fundamentally believes in and supports the principles of freedom of thought, speech, expression and association. It is those freedoms which underpin a strong and healthy democracy.