Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I also wish to speak on: 'the government's disregard for the rule of law, sovereignty and a healthy democracy', the Matter of Public Importance raised by the Independent member for Clark. The only thing is, as has been previously mentioned, Julian Assange wasn't actually mentioned in the MPI; so it's basically been made very difficult for government members to prepare to talk about this, because he was not mentioned in it at all.

However, the MPI does mention the law. Can I first of all say: on this side, in the coalition, we've always put the Australian people and their safety first. The coalition will also look after the Australian people, and that is actually highlighted, too, by you, Mr Deputy Speaker O'Brien—and I acknowledge your service with the Queensland police—and also by the Minister for Home Affairs, the member for Dickson, who's also a former police officer, and also by the member for Cowper in New South Wales, also a former police officer.

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