Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to address one of the major issues facing the nation. I wish to note what a contrast that will be to the absolute fall in public standing that Senator Sinodinos has just engineered on his own behalf. There was a lot of expectation when he came into the Senate that he would elevate the coalition to deal with matters of national importance and policy. What we have just seen here today is a complete fall from grace. It was a muckraking exercise in shabby propaganda. It was a personal attack. It may interest him to know that the Cold War is now over. What is more interesting is that his political career is now over, having brought with him the worst part of the coalition—that is, the personal attacks and muckraking that characterises some of its members.

Senator Sinodinos said those who fail to remember the past are condemned to repeat it. That is true. I remember that Senator Sinodinos was the former Prime Minister John Howard's adviser during the worst example of inhumane abuse to children that this country has seen when children were locked behind razor wire, when we had the whole children overboard affair.

Senator Mason interjecting—

Mr Acting Deputy President, I listened in silence to Senator Sinodinos. I would appreciate the same treatment.