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

There is no doubt that a filibuster is going on here. Mr Alistair Jordan from the Prime Minister’s office walks in, and all of a sudden the Labor Party can spend an hour determining whether or not we ought to have a lunch break—but we cannot sit longer to consider the implications of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. Fifteen hours of debate is already a filibuster, but they have been filibustering for virtually an hour in relation to the sitting hours today. Quite frankly, the government ought to be ashamed of themselves. It will be embarrassing when the Australian people learn that the Labor Party spent more time debating whether or not we have a lunch break than debating the actual substantive issues. I would encourage all colleagues to keep their contributions very short so we can move to a vote.