Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement of one minute in response to remarks made by Senator Lambie prior to question time.

Leave granted.

I thank the Senate. Prior to question time, Senator Lambie indicated that, potentially, some offence had been taken by remarks that I had made. I've had the chance to check those remarks. I said:

In speaking to that debate at that time, President, I made a plea to all senators—particularly those at that end of the chamber—to stay out of the gutter, to rise above the Twitterverse, and to play the ball, not the person.

If Senator Lambie or any senator took any offence at those remarks, I apologise to that senator for any offence taken. However, I would restate the plea to all senators, which is to stay out of the gutter, to rise above the Twitterverse and to play the ball, not the person, in all debates in this place.