Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Sorry, Mr Deputy President. We support Senator Brown's motion 359. The opposition continue—and they have demonstrated again—their complete opposition to the Tasmanian Forest Intergovernmental Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the state of Tasmania. Why? Because they do not want measures like the Australian and Tasmanian governments providing up to $85 million to provide employee assistance, retraining and relocation. They do not want $276 million to secure jobs, diversify the Tasmanian economy and provide for the ongoing sustainability of the forest industry. They would rather sit on the other side and blow out the argument—rant and rave and complain. That is a very good characterisation of the opposition. That is all they can do. Rather than be constructive, rather than put their minds to how we can support Tasmania, rather than consider this, all they want to do is complain, complain and complain.

We are not dealing with the substantive issue today. We are dealing with a motion to suspend standing orders. The government will not agree to the suspension. I know that will disappoint Senator Brown. The reason the government will not agree to this suspension is that we know the opposition were playing petty politics with this motion anyway by not supporting its formality—

Senator Colbeck interjecting—

They are still complaining. They do not realise that we are about substantive reform. The opposition continue to harp. That is all the opposition can do. We will not support the suspension, on the basis that there is legislation that the government wants to proceed with today and there will be time to debate this in the future. It will go to general business as a conse­quence of the silly actions of those opposite, who simply do not want to debate it, do not want it to matter.

Senator Colbeck interjecting—

Then I am sure you will commit general business on Thursday to this debate. Let me hear that you commit general business on Thursday to this debate. I do not hear you agree to that. You do not want to debate it at all. Why don't you commit general business on Thursday to debate this? You will not do that. Why? Because you do not actually want to debate it; you want to use the suspension, because you have only got five minutes in you to be able to argue about it. That is all—only five minutes.

Senator Colbeck interjecting—

Well, you have had your five minutes and you still cannot keep silent, because all you want to do is interject. You are completely hopeless at it in any event.

The reality of the matter is that we will get on with government business. The opposition would rather up-end this joint, would rather not allow the proper process to continue. Those opposite only want to complain. It is a culture of complaint that you have developed in opposition that you now continue with unendingly. It is a pity that you do not turn as much energy to policy development as you do to the culture of complaint that you have now developed.

An agreement between environmental organisations and the Tasmanian forestry organisation on the Tasmanian Forests Statement of Principles—

Senator Colbeck interjecting—

nd you now have demonstrated that all you can do is interject. You cannot engage in the substantive debate. It is about a suspension. I heard nothing from the other side to argue their case. All they want to do is harp and take a negative, carping approach.