Barry O'Sullivan (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Do not tell me I do not know what I am talking about, Senator. Two thirds of the people who have been on this scheme have continued on the scheme on a voluntary basis. If you want to make your contribution in contradiction of the contributions made by people like Noel Pearson, I am afraid that I am going to have a deaf ear to you and two ears facing towards North Queensland while I listen to that community leader. He is no friend of the government on every occasion, I promise you. If Noel Pearson has something to say, he has a complete disregard for the political identity of those on the other end of his sharp tongue. If he supports it and two thirds of the people support it, then I commend to this chamber that we support it also.