Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Hansard source

I have to say I don't agree with you, being someone that's a minor Independent up here and feeling like they're being gagged continuously yet they're the ones stuck. I'm not doing anything wrong and I'm getting punished. I didn't know this country was punishing people for actions that they're not even taking. There are some of us on this crossbench that don't deserve this reprimand. That's what it is, a reprimand on democracy and the people I represent in Tasmania. That's a very sad day.

You want to talk about complex motions. If you think you can get complexity out in two minutes then blow me over. You can't get anything in two minutes. They're right. When we put up motions, we want to see what side you are on. I can tell you right now, if I hadn't been given those motions and pulled you guys up and put you in a corner, that veterans affairs department would be worse and would continue to get worse. There would not be any royal commission. They would never have been able to start to heal, the thousands of veterans out there you are going to see come forward in that royal commission, because they wouldn't have a royal commission.

It seems that every time it gets too hard for you majors, the first thing you want to do is put a piece of goddam gaffer tape on us. You know what? It is chaotic in here. You know why? You are the majority of the Senate, both you major parties. You are the Senate! Take responsibility for your own actions and stop blaming us, because it is enough. We have rights, just like you do—and so do millions of Australians out there. If they've chosen me to be in here, to be heard, that is my right. You limiting my right to be heard in here is limiting their rights. It has gone far enough. Quite frankly, it seems to me that I may as well walk in here with gaffer tape on my mouth saying there's nothing to come here. This is so unfair. You're punishing some of us for something we did not do.