John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on this motion to vary the sitting hours of the Senate. What is this about? This is about the Greens wishing to go to Durban in South Africa in early December so that they can say to the rest of the world, 'Look at what we have achieved in Australia, our minority government'—a total of 10 members of parliament and senators out of a total of 226 in this place—'and how we dominate the government.'

This is about time; it is about wishing to change the hours of the Senate to accommodate the Greens—nothing more, nothing less. Yet in the three years I have been here I have noticed who the biggest time wasters have been: the Greens. How many divisions did they call when they had five, until 1 July this year, Greens senators in numerous divisions against at least 69, 70 or 71 other senators? And they say they have the numbers! They must be terrible at mathematics to think that five is greater than 70. Yet they are now saying, 'Let's extend time so that we can pass this legislation on the carbon tax and so we'—that is, the Greens—'can be complicit in the broken promise of our Prime Minister to the Australian people prior to the last election.' That is what this is about: satisfying the Greens to get the carbon tax/emissions trading scheme through this parliament. Forget about proper committee hearings and proper inquiries and the Senate doing its job properly; it is about passing legislation to satisfy Bob Brown and the Greens so that they can gloat when they get to Durban.

This carbon tax will be a long argument and a long debate, unless of course the Greens and the government pull the guillotine down on it, and a huge tax and cost impost on Australia. Why the rush? Why does it have to be rushed through this parliament? That is a question that everyone should be asking. Those out there in radio land listening to this broadcast and those who are watching it on the internet or in their offices should be asking: why the rush? Why are you going to impose a tax of somewhere between $72 billion and $100 billion on Australian industries by 2020 and have to rush it through? That is what this debate here and now is about. Why the rush? That is a question that everyone should be asking.

I find it amazing that the Greens are not rushing over to China to say to them, 'You put legislation through your parliament'—hang on, they do not have a parliament. I am sorry, I have overlooked an issue there.