Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Crossin foolishly interjects. Having come from her absolute debacle about the Northern Territory intervention, I would have thought she might have thought twice before opening her mouth, especially when she is not in her proper seat. That aside, the point is a very valid one. We as a government did not give that guarantee. That is quite right. But we were castigated from the Torres Strait to Tasmania, from Sydney to the Swan, for not being able to give that guarantee. The Labor Party went around the countryside saying, ‘You cannot vote for a government that is unable to give that guarantee.’