Rex Patrick (SA, Centre Alliance) | Hansard source

I thank senators for their contributions. I might work backwards through the contributions that were made, starting off with that of the Labor Party. I note on the weekend that the Labor Party issued a press release suggesting that I wasn't going to support a motion requiring Senator Cormann to come into the chamber and give an explanation, and that is not the case. As I stated when that motion was put, Centre Alliance would support the motion but we would not support the disruption of the very important business of the Senate, so we refused to support a motion to suspend standing orders.

Here we are; we're several months into this parliament and Labor are building up. They've started off by challenging a lone crossbencher on their failure to support a procedural motion. Let's predict what's going to happen from here. In about a year's time you might be able to stand up and deal with me on a substantive motion. In about two years time you might even be able to take on the government. That's the place you're in right now. You're in disarray.