Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Special Minister of State) Share this | Hansard source

The government will of course, I imagine, be in a position to do that once various aspects of this program, as was outlined clearly at Senate estimates, have actually been settled. But at the time when we are going to tender, we are not going to expose the taxpayer to risk of the Commonwealth showing its hand, so to speak. Senator Siewert, what I always come back to, as I have in this chamber and as I do at estimates, is the absolute and utter hostility of the Greens to undertaking any measure that you and no-one else deems to be against the interests of people taking illegal, illicit drugs. Just because something has been trialled elsewhere and has not worked does not mean it should not be tried again. We are interested in helping people get off illegal, illicit substances, yet your constant belligerence and refusal to look at these measures betrays the old policies you took off your website a year ago. (Time expired)