Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Well, hilarity, if you like, Senator Cash. That is fine; I will take that. I put a question to Senator Cormann as to what plan the government has, if any, for employment opportunities in WA as the mining boom cools, and, specifically, I put this question to Senator Cormann three times in a row: whether government senators from WA would be permitted to accept a Greens call for a debate on the economy. Now, I suspect Senator Cash would probably welcome the opportunity. She is avoiding eye contact, but not to worry. I suspect Liberal senators from Western Australia would welcome the opportunity to do so, but Senator Cormann passed up three perfectly good opportunities. I believe that Prime Minister Abbott, on questioning by my colleague the member for Melbourne, Adam Bandt, passed up the opportunity as well.

If government senators are so proud of their record on managing the economy in the six disastrous months that they have been in office, then let us have the debate, let us have it in Western Australia and let us have it on the eve of a by-election—