Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I accept that you disagree, Senator Lambie, but we each have the right to stand up and respond. The advice that I can give this morning, based on the information that I've been able to glean, is that it is standard practice for preliminary issues to be addressed through the court to clarify and confirm aspects of the claim so that the proceedings can be managed appropriately. As this matter is before the court, I am not in a position to provide any further information. If there is more engagement that we can provide to Senator Lambie through the Minister for Defence, I'm very happy to undertake that and to see if we can provide that information because I know that Senator Lambie's advocacy around matters relating to defence and veterans in defence is a priority for her and one the government respects and has sought at every opportunity to work with her on. But in terms of being able to respond to some of the allegations that you have asserted in this place, I am not in a position, and that is partly procedural due to the fact that we were not given any notice and also due to the disrespect that was shown to people in this place to engage in this suspension stunt. That happens every single day that we are due to start on government business but never ever happens on private senators' business days, ever. There is never any suspension that is sought on those days because it is not nearly as important then, so that stunt is the first point. The second point is, because these matters are before the courts and they are being considered by the court, which is the appropriate place for this to occur, we will not support the suspension.