Trish Crossin (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Just at the start of my contribution to this matter of public importance, I rise to say to the coalition opposite me that this afternoon's debate really is a facade. It is on because there are members of the Defence Force in this building as part of the Parliamentary Defence Program.

In fact, if the opposition were really serious about having a debate about Defence they would not have struggled to get their five members on their feet to support this. If I go to section 75 of the standing orders, it says:

… in order to proceed the proposal must be supported by 4 senators, not including the proposer, rising in their places.