George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Well, no, I can't confirm that at all, Senator Chisholm, because that is not the only relevant fact—and if you reflected on the matter for a moment you would realise what a foolish suggestion that is.

But I think we do now know who is under acknowledgement or allegiance of a foreign power, and it is not Mr Joyce and it's not Senator Canavan: it's Mr Bill Shorten. Because what we've had confirmed today is that the Australian Labor Party, in conspiracy with the New Zealand Labour Party, has been using the parliamentary processes of New Zealand, a foreign government, to subvert the government of Australia—to subvert the government of Australia! And I say to those opposite: if you want to engage in partisan conflict with the Australian government, you fight your fights in here. You fight your fights in here! You fight your fights over there in the chamber of the House of Representatives. You fight your fights in Australia! Don't go sneaking around the back stairs and back corridors of the New Zealand parliament, trying to find some gormless New Zealand Labour politician to try to use the parliamentary processes of a foreign country in order to try to fight your political wars in Australia.

This is what the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr Bill English, had to say about the matter in question time there a short while ago. Mr English said this:

These are serious issues—to interfere in another country's politics—and it appears there have been significant misjudgements by the member's fellow Opposition party.

Senator Wong interjecting—

That is the Australian Labor Party, Senator Wong! So don't go using the New Zealand parliamentary processes to interfere in the politics of this country. (Time expired)