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

You can't just sit there and say 'You're wrong' and not give an alternative.

Senator Payne interjecting—

Oh right; okay. Well, when was the first draft with the universities in it? It's a pretty simple question. Mr Newman is a very intelligent officer. He could have told me that, but he was—

Senator Payne interjecting—

I'm not patronising! I think he is. He answered questions—

Senator Payne interjecting—

I don't think someone like you should tell me about being patronising, Senator Payne. My point is: they know and you won't tell us, and I don't understand why not. Actually, I do: you don't want to tell us because it was a late edition. Can the minister explain the regulatory gap between public and private universities? Why aren't private universities subject to the same requirements?