Maria Kovacic (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to take note of answers to questions from the opposition. I'm not often lost for words, but I can tell you that I almost am today. I don't know where to begin, actually: Senator Farrell's inability to answer Senator Birmingham's questions, Senator Pratt's responses or Senator Walsh's response. It is incredibly confusing. What I will note is that, while Senator Farrell did not answer Senator Birmingham's questions, he talked a lot about the consistent policies of this government. If there is one thing that this government has not been, it is consistent. There is constant chopping and changing. There is telling the community one thing, saying you're going to do a second thing and then backtracking and delivering a third thing. It's absolutely confusing. Senator Farrell didn't even answer the question that Senator Birmingham asked around Five Eyes. He actually just went on to say who was included in Five Eyes. He didn't answer the question; he just gave some background narrative. It's very confusing.

Senator Pratt went on to note that she would not expect a trade minister to discuss the nature of a relationship with a trading partner or with the US. But the problem is that Senator Farrell did. He made the statement that he is not sure that the United States is our most trusted ally. So, in one breath, we have somebody making a statement and in the next breath, in the defence of that statement, somebody says you wouldn't expect somebody to say something, when they just did. This is in reference to—in Senator Pratt 's own words—a sophisticated, reliable and strong relationship and an important diplomatic relationship, and Senator Farrell has said he is not sure the United States is our most trusted ally. It's very disappointing.

In relation to the questions around the NZYQ case, I note that Senator Walsh said that those of us on this side of the House want to ignore the High Court or ignore the advice of agencies. No, we don't. We just want this government to be prepared for the outcomes of any High Court decision or for the advice of agencies and not to be caught out without being ready to make decisions based on those decisions or outcomes. That is the problem: this government wasn't ready. This government didn't act when it should have to protect Australians, and now it is backtracking and suggesting that we want to ignore the High Court, when that is absolutely not the case.

Finally, we all know that this government has not been a decent and strong economic manager.

Question agreed to.