Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

Almost everything that Senator Ludlam said was untrue. The government took the initiative and proposed that the Joint Committee on the NBN be re-established. The government approached Labor and secured in-principle support for the joint committee. But what we have actually witnessed and are witnessing is an effective coup within the opposition.

Unbeknownst to the shadow communications minister, Mr Clare, Labor in the Senate, as we see here with Senator Ludlam, is launching a separate proposal for a committee. The government had taken steps to ensure that parliamentary scrutiny of this project would occur. We are very clear. But we will not be establishing the Joint Committee on the NBN if Labor insists on a separate committee in this place and if Labor, in effect, perpetrates a coup within their own ranks. What we are seeing is Labor senators freelancing and undermining— (Time expired)