Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

I don't accept the premise of all of that aspect of the question. I know there are many names you mentioned there, many individuals, who have been very courageous in public statements that they've made and who have played a role during the course of this year, in particular, in relation to driving some of the change that we've discussed and the Prime Minister has discussed very clearly this week. The Prime Minister has made clear that change is necessary in the parliament and that we need to ensure we have the reforms that are necessary for this place to operate effectively in the future. There's all manner of conduct that could do with improvement at times, and we want to make sure that those reforms occur to drive that change. But, frankly, conduct elsewhere in terms of the types of smearing, scaring and so on that those opposite like to engage in could also do with some help and some lifting.

I reckon when you go out deliberately trying to scare Australia's pensioners, Senator Wong, as you like to do election after election with 'Mediscare' and—

it's pretty obvious that you are out there to try to threaten or intimate them too. (Time expired)