Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC) Share this | Hansard source

I'm sorry; I should have recalled that, and I will do it through the chair. What we're asking for is answers from Senator Xenophon. He indicated that late last night, apparently, the specifics of the agreement he reached with the government to end media diversity in this country were released. We've tried to find that information and haven't been able to track it down, so our only way of getting that information at the moment is either through the government or through Senator Xenophon.

I recall—through you, Chair—that when Senator Xenophon first came to this chamber nine years ago his role model was Brian Harradine from Tasmania. You can look back at Brian Harradine's history, and just one of the many deals he did was over the sale of Telstra with the Howard government. He got $350 million for his state as a result of that deal. The question I'd like an answer to—a straight answer!—from Senator Xenophon is: how much of the $50 million or $60 million deal he's done with the government has been secured for his home state of South Australia? It's a simple question. I've not been able to find anywhere on the record, so far, that we've got an answer to that question. Senator Xenophon wanted to model himself on Senator Harradine; I think it's pretty clear now that Senator Xenophon is no Brian Harradine. He hasn't secured the sort of money that Brian Harradine secured when he reached agreements with the government. Tell us: if you've done this agreement with the government, how much have you got for your home state of South Australia?