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

I think Senator Edwards has learnt about how quick people are to judge members of parliament. We get judgement all the time, some of it fair and some of it unfair, and I think he has had a baptism of fire in that regard. At the next election, we will all be judged and we will all be held accountable for how we vote on this legisla­tion. I will be voting for it and I will be happy to explain my position publicly. We will all have to, as I say, seek the support of the Australian people. Democracy in Austra­lia requires governments to go to elections and stand on their record. This government will do so and we will do so proudly.