Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

What an interesting contribution! She did not actually answer my question. She just ducked and weaved and would not answer the question. I think it was the same speech she gave at 11 o'clock and at four-thirty as well. I really enjoy—and I am sure the Labor Party and Labor supporters really enjoy—the Greens and Senator Lee Rhiannon lecturing us, saying, 'The progressive side of politics should be united to achieve the defeat of the Turnbull government,' as they lie in bed with the coalition on voting reform and on preferences. I mean, really!

We have already had the Leader of the Australian Greens outed on national television by Michael Kroger saying, 'Yes, we have a loose arrangement.' We have already had that. We have had Senator Di Natale in here claiming 'no, not really' but we have already had Michael Kroger saying, 'Yes, we have a loose arrangement with the Greens.' We have had Senator Di Natale in here explaining that they are targeting Ms Plibersek and Mr Albanese because 'they are all so bad'. Gee, that is a really united, progressive side of politics, isn't it? Because progressive politics means you should try and take out two of the most progressive people in this parliament, who have been involved in social and economic reform for the betterment of working people and for the betterment of the LGBTI community, who are strong advocates of multiculturalism—people I am proud to call my colleagues. Yes, it is very progressive of you to lie down with the Liberals and work with the Liberals to defeat them. Do not give us a lecture about progressive politicians working together. You are entitled—