Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Her courage and her selflessness helped start a national reckoning. It helped lead to the Jenkins report. It helped this government to set the standard and implement Respect@Work.

And who was spearheading these reforms? No-one opposite. They let the Respect@Work report gather dust on Mr Porter's desk. They dragged their feet and failed to act on key recommendations. It is Senator Gallagher who has led these reforms with her usual integrity and conviction. And these reforms have made a difference. But you know what? It will take all of us to ensure they actually have an effect. It will take reflection, and it will take taking responsibility for change.

But, regrettably, what has been demonstrably clear this last fortnight is that what has not changed is the attitude of too many of those opposite. We've seen that in their behaviour this fortnight. Too many of them have learnt nothing from the national reckoning of two years ago. The very same members of the opposition who were at the centre of events years ago—the very same members of the opposition who have dodged questions, have carefully chosen their language and evaded scrutiny, and have never been transparent about their knowledge and action—are now pointing the finger at others. It's a desperate attempt to launder their reputation—a desperate attempt to rewrite history by peddling false accusations about others. People opposite are willing to use the private text messages of an alleged victim-survivor of sexual assault, in this chamber for their own political purposes. I've seen a lot of things—

Opposition senators interjecting—