Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I am reminded by my colleagues that Senator Brandis's largest claim to fame was his description of a former Prime Minister, whom he allegedly served and followed, as a 'lying rodent'. So it is a bit surprising for Senator Brandis to ask this question of me. That is one that I would have handed on to someone else, Senator Brandis. I would have said, 'That's not really a question that I can ask, because I have a history of being disloyal to my leader and calling him names.' So I do not think that you are the one to try to make such claims.

I suggest that you return to the issues of real importance to Australians—the issues that they are interested in—rather than this cheap, low-life, political point scoring. You think it is interesting, but I think most Australians will ask why you are not asking questions about the NBN, about the defence force posture review, about antidumping, about the cost of living and about things that they care about. (Time expired)