Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I will take the opportunity, now that there is not a sixth speaker in this debate, to correct the record on two matters. Firstly, Senator Farrell, during his speech taking note of the answers given in question time today, framed Senator Nash. That was very concerning, because Senator Nash has a range of appointments today. She had to leave the chamber, as do many senators after debate, after question time. In fact, Senator Nash at short notice agreed to participate in the debate, and we thanked her very much for rearranging her diary, after which she went back to those commitments. It is important, when a senator stands up in the chamber on broadcast day and shouts out that a senator is rushing from the chamber and will not stay and listen to the debate, that we correct that record. That is the first item.

The second item is about Senator Conroy’s answers during question time today. It has been highlighted through the debate, and I wish to restate again in response to government senators, that we do support the measures. We are very supportive of these measures, but we want scrutiny. We want clarity about what the measures exactly are. We are going to be expected to vote on these measures without any clear indication of modelling, of the financial arrangements or of whether or not this government can carry us through to the next election without leaving us in a serious deficit. It is important that we get these matters on the record. It is important that we ask these questions, and coalition senators have done exactly that today. They have inquired as to why the government will not be transparent, especially when the Prime Minister stands up and purports to be the most open and transparent Prime Minister that this country has ever had, yet we get no detail and no clarity on these important and very significant financial measures.

Question agreed to.