Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Now they have sent in the 'minister for out there', Senator Conroy. This is all part of shutting down this place. In this new environment, let us see if the new chair of legal and cons supports the guillotine. Let us see how independent she is. Let us see how she allows ventilation of debate. Let us see what she does. It is going to be an interesting start.

This action is completely and utterly disgusting. It is not disgusting because we lose Senator Humphries—although he is an extremely competent chair and does not deserve to lose the position; it is disgusting because, right at the start, you have ignored the principle of how the Senate is supposed to work. The premier committee of this place is supposed to have oversight of the process. Either you are totally and utterly naive or you are pernicious, and I think it is the latter.