Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) | Hansard source

I think it's fair to say that all of us in this place are a bit shocked but not surprised by the reaction of the Australian Greens political party. You would have thought that the one thing that would bind all of us in this place would be coming together in memory of the sacrifices that each and every man and woman of our very proud ADF have made to protect our country and its values and freedoms so that people like Senator Steele-John and others in this place can actually say the very things that he and everyone else in this place have been able to say today.

Yet we have senators in this place who come in and don't do the right thing of backing our veterans, who are hurting because they have had to go through a very painful process through the royal commission. This is one opportunity that's been put before senators, and you would have thought that every single senator in this place would say: 'Yes, we're on your side. We condemn the actions—the violent actions, the abhorrent actions—by those who have taken a decision to vandalise one of the most sacred places in this country.' But, no, the Australian Greens political party chose to do the opposite thing and back those people who have vandalised and made a mockery of the fine men and women who have stood up for this country and paid the ultimate sacrifice. They are trying to conflate the debate by talking about some private contractors or some sponsorship.

Exactly, Senator Lambie; it is. I won't repeat it. Australians have a right to peaceful protest, but they do not have a right to vandalise, spray paint, desecrate or otherwise deface our memorials, particularly those to the men and women of our veterans community and the ADF. What Senator Steele-John and those in the Australian Greens are saying—and I hope they're wrong—is that it's okay. Is it okay now to go to cemeteries? Where do you draw the line? As someone who is the very proud husband of a member of the ADF, I can assure you that your comments are totally out of order and offensive. I bet you that every single one of her comrades in her unit watching today will be absolutely disgusted by your comments and those of the Australian Greens today.