Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

It was pointed out to me this morning by Senator Dastyari that the government was close to caving in on this. Absolute BS! What that is code for is: 'We were going to do a deal with the government, but you beat us first.' That is what that is code for.

Let me tell you: I sat in your chair, Mr President, when this party let the kidnap amendment go to a vote without putting up speakers and without even so much as a 'No' on the division. It was the Greens that put this amendment back into the mix and rescued this national debate. The Labor Party did absolutely nothing—absolutely nothing. They rolled over and had their tummies tickled.

We have led on this through the Senate inquiry. Senator Milne got this Senate inquiry up. We put this amendment back into the national conversation, and I am glad that we are still having it today. It is the Greens that have led on this, and we want an outcome for those—