Joanne Ryan (Lalor, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was the eve of the election campaign. There was our would-be Prime Minister. He could see the holy grail. He could taste the prime ministership. Then came the question. He reached for the grail with his final promise: no cuts to the ABC or SBS. He promised one thing and did the opposite. This time, it was the ABC. I want to highlight that the cuts will impact on the televising of women's sport. This will send participation and gender equality backwards.

I want to highlight Minister Pyne's hypocrisy in organising a petition that is best summed up with this contribution in his petition from Arthur Spanos:

Mr Pyne, what is the point of you being a minister in the Federal government if you need to resort to change.org in order to exert an influence on a policy of your own making?

Will you use the same tactic when the university of South Australia increases the cost of a degree?

Mr Pyne the petitioner, we have a message for you today: tens of thousands have signed a higher education petition. I look forward to your capitulation!