Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Patrick has asked for item (1) of the government's very rushed amendments that were only circulated this morning in this debate to be put separately. That's absolutely within his right. Let's be honest, the attack on Senator Patrick from the Labor Party really just exposes their uncomfortableness with this whole thing. It must be very difficult coming into this place day after day after day and not knowing where you stand on things. That's the truth of it. That is the problem with the Labor Party. I also accept that the government have not just done a deal here that satisfies Facebook and Google, and that they have blinked in relation to that; they have also, in this amendment, delivered for their mates in the Murdoch press. That is what is going on here. That is why this is in here. And that is why the Labor Party is gutless about taking this on. Mr Albanese, we all know, has no chance in any universe of doing anything if he's having to have a fight with the Murdoch press. That's what is going on, so let's just be honest; we're not debating anyone else's amendment but the government's. Our job in the Senate is to hold this government to account. They're mates with the Murdoch press, and now they're best buddies of the billionaires over in the US who have made this government blink. That's what's going on, and that's why the Greens will also request that this item (1) is put separately.

The CHAIR: The question is that item (1) on sheet PG138, as moved by the government, be agreed to.