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

Thank you, Mr President. I doubt that it is a question that is properly directed but I am happy to deal with it. The senator may be interested in the processes of the Labor Party because we actually have a policy debate inside the Labor Party. We are not a member of a party which has excluded itself from the public policy debate in this country.

Only the Liberal and the National parties have decided not to participate in the public policy debate in this country about the pricing of carbon. They have said, 'We will follow our leader anywhere'—and he leads them nowhere. He leads them to the total negativity of running round the country starting fear campaigns wherever he goes and crying wolf wherever he goes, because the Liberal Party does not want to engage in policy; they have only got negativity; they have only got opposition. The Labor Party will continue to govern in the best interests of all Australians and develop policy that will serve the interests of all Australians for many years to come.