Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) | Hansard source

That is right; they don't care. And why do we know that? Because this was raised with the government prior to the legislating of this tax. That is why this matter is urgent. This is why I implore the Senate to support the procedural motion to suspend the standing orders.

Widows face the same uncertainty as this domestic violence survivor when property changes hands following the death of a spouse. That is an utter disgrace. Those opposite were actually told this prior to legislating. These concerns were raised—they laughed. They said it would never happen. Well, guess what? It did happen. I would have thought today you would be prepared to suspend standing orders to bring in a bill to clean up your mess. Yet what have we heard? Absolute silence from those opposite. I can assure you, Deputy President, if those opposite won't help themselves, the coalition absolutely will. This cannot wait.

This is the whole purpose of suspending standing orders. This is a mechanism that allows the Australian Senate to say: 'This matter is of such urgency that we all agree that we will put aside the ordinary course that is set out in the Senate order of business for today. This matter is so urgent that we will join together and suspend standing orders to actually deal with the urgency of this matter.' How can anyone on that side think this is not an urgent matter? This cannot wait. A widow, sadly, can't put the death of her husband on hold; she is now being financially penalised because of your widow's tax. A family going through a divorce can't simply suspend a property settlement; they will now potentially be hit with your tax. A victim of domestic violence—and this is the real-life example, and shame on those opposite for not coming in here today and being prepared to deal with the mess that they've created—can't put her financial independence on hold while the Albanese Labor government works out how to clean up the mess it's created. You were warned, you ignored the warnings. Australians are now dealing with the consequences. This is urgent and this matter should be supported by the Senate.