Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I cannot believe what I am hearing. I have been here for a very long time and I have seen some robust debates and some surprise tactics, but not this approach of agreeing to something and then completely disregarding it and going the other way at a time when those who should be leading in this chamber are otherwise engaged in an arrangement that is meant to make sure the chamber operates properly. I call upon the crossbenchers to support what Senator Fifield has said, but of course none of them are here to hear this debate. Why are they not here to hear the debate? Because they are in the meeting that is being held to determine what is happening. The Greens, instead of having their respected whip, Senator Siewert, here and their leader, have left a couple of flunkies to try and—I am not sure why they are here.

As I say, I have been here a long, long time and I have never seen this. You can understand it coming from the likes of Senator Cameron, who supported my namesake in New South Wales politics, the other Ian Macdonald; Senator Dastyari, who was the leader of the ALP in Sydney at the time that Eddie Obeid and my namesake were handing out their favours to all and sundry. You would sort of expect that from them. But you would not expect it from the person who is supposedly the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate—a person who is only in this place because of people who made commitments and who actually then stood by their commitments. The commitment was, of course, that another senator won the ballot in the Labor Party in South Australia and was top of the ticket, but a deal was done and people stood by their deal. That is not right, Senator Bullock?

Senator Bullock interjecting—

It is a shame it happened, I agree with you. I would have preferred the guy who came in No. 1 from the 'Shoppies', as I understand. He should have been No. 1. There you go. I do not want to delay the chamber. Suffice it to say that I would certainly hope that when the crossbenchers come back on the division—when Senator Siewert and the acting leader of the Palmer United Party come back from the normal arrangement that is done, then perhaps this amendment will be defeated, as it should be.

Just before I do sit down I just want to congratulate the President, the Deputy President, the Speaker and Senator Brandis for a wonderful event which happened out the front. It was all about the spirit of Christmas. There were people from Opera Australia and the Woden Valley Youth Choir. It was wonderful.

Senator Dastyari interjecting—

Senator Cameron interjecting—

I didn't see any of you people there, I might say.