Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

It is a great shame that Senator Sheldon, whom I actually have respect for, comes into this chamber and demeans the Religious Discrimination Bill and all that it stands for. It is a great shame that he has deliberately, probably for a political point, done that. I have tried to depoliticise this and bring forward a practical bill that could get bipartisan support. It is a great shame that you come into this chamber and you verbal Senator Stoker. Senator Sheldon, you will be aware, because it was former Attorney-General Dreyfus, who, in 2013, when amendments were made by the then Labor government to be Sex Discrimination Act in extending what protected attributes are, Labor were actually the ones, and we agreed with you, that should extend those exemptions to religious bodies. To come in here and play politics—shame on you.