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

I want to make a few points here. We as the opposition and in government over decades have taken the view that the government of the day has the right to set the parliamentary sitting schedule. That is the position that we have consistently taken. So the position that we are demonstrating today is no different to the position that successive Senate delegations—

I am happy to take the interjection, Senator Lambie. What I would say to you is this: we do have a view that this chamber should be run differently. We do have a view that a government should legislate on the things that matter. We do have a view about actually having a government with an agenda. What we say is: elect a Labor government. Elect a Labor government and then we will put forward a Senate program—

With respect, Senator Patrick, you've voted with the government on many pieces of legislation over many years.