David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

After Mr Shorten's failure to deal with the opposition's spokesperson, he then conducted a most outrageous campaign against a sitting senator, accusing him of attacking a former Chief of Army and calling him a coward. He was completely in error and subsequently, realising the error, apologised to the parliament and took steps to remediate the outrageous slur that he had perpetrated. Why would the Leader of the Opposition, having apologised himself, realising the damage to Australian Defence personnel from his having impugned the courage of a former Chief of Army, not take action against his shadow spokesperson? Why would he not do that, irresponsible and embarrassing as his commentary was? (Time expired)