Rex Patrick (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I just want to make a short contribution in response to some of the things that Senator Hanson has said—and I will do this as unemotionally as I possibly can. I'm a big believer in people being able to utilise the committee process to express their views, but I will point out that, in this parliament, Senator Hanson has in fact voted against 40 per cent of all committee referrals. That includes committee referrals in relation to domestic violence, in particular against women and children; ministerial standards; the model for government investment in early childhood education and care; the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Amendment (Extension and Other Measures) Bill; the Migration Amendment (Clarifying International Obligations for Removal) Bill; the Ministerial Suitability Commission of Inquiry Bill; again, ministerial standards; and the current status of scientific advice to parliament. There have been a number of bills that Senator Hanson has simply denied the opportunity for people to engage in, through the inquiry process for the Senate to examine bills and issues before the Senate.

Senator Hanson, I think your bill is a sledgehammer in relation to dealing with some of the boundaries. I do accept that there are circumstances where people are possibly crossing the line and that it would be good to explore that—and I have made an offer, if you were to soften your bill. I recognise that there are cases for restrictions on people who have not been vaccinated—and Senator Lambie mentioned some of those in her contribution last week. I don't want to see people who are unvaccinated going into aged-care facilities. I think there are reasons to have restrictions, but I also wonder about the lines that are drawn around medical people refusing to see people who are unvaccinated. I think there are questions to be answered, but the bill that you've put up is just a sledgehammer. I ask you to reflect on all of the times—40 per cent of the times—that you have voted against the Senate conducting an inquiry into a particular matter.