Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

McKENZIE (—) (): My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. This week Senator Payman claimed she had been exiled and intimidated by Labor parliamentarians. Minister, have you or the Labor leadership raised any concerns with the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service or taken any action to ensure Senator Payman is aware of her rights to have such allegations independently investigated?

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

Yes, I and others did inquire as to whether or not Senator Payman had been engaging with PWSS. It's a matter for her private business as to whether that was taken up. Yes, I and others have inquired as to her welfare.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKenzie, first supplementary?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister has been repeatedly defied and humiliated by Senator Payman. His belated and feeble efforts to impose some form of discipline have spectacularly failed. If the Prime Minister cannot bring himself to act decisively, effectively and with strength within his own government, how can the Australian people trust him to act with strength and decisiveness on issues of importance to our nation?

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

The Prime Minister has sought to act with restraint. The Prime Minister has sought to act with understanding. To my way of thinking, those are qualities associated with leadership and with strength. I regret that Senator McKenzie is taking such an approach in relation to this matter.

The:

Senator McKenzie, second supplementary?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Former Labor senator Graham Richardson described the Prime Minister's first attempt at punishment of Senator Payman like this: 'I thought it was very weak. I think Albo's made a mistake on this.' Hasn't this critique been proven right—that Mr Albanese's response was weak and has been proven to be a giant mistake? Given the Prime Minister hasn't been able to convince his own party to take his authority seriously and has been so comprehensively outplayed by Senator Payman, how can anyone else be expected to take him seriously?

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order across the chamber!

Senator McKenzie!

Senator Hanson-Young, I've called order!

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! Minister Wong.

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

(—) (): Thank you, Senator. What I would say to you is that the Prime Minister has always acted to advance the cause of Labor and to ensure that the government's agenda continues to be implemented. I want to respond with a point about collective decision-making. We believe, on this side of the chamber, that collective decision-making is about the group being more powerful and more wise than any one individual. I would say to this chamber that that truth is demonstrated by the history of this nation and the progress that Labor has delivered on Medicare, the minimum wage, social welfare, paid parental leave, superannuation, the Sex Discrimination Act, the Racial Discrimination Act, the abolition of the white Australia policy, Mabo, land rights and the removal of discrimination against LGBT Australians. (Time expired)