Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Over the last few months, we've tried to do the right thing by the government over here. We tried to split a bill which is terribly contentious, leaving all the contentious parts off to one side and having all the parts where we know we've got the numbers and that are not contentious. They include that first responders suffering PTSD are recognised without fighting and that domestic violence victims are not being discriminated against in the workplace. We've tried to bring silica into line with asbestos and we're making sure that workers are getting redundancy payments.

For our efforts to do that, this is what's happened in the last week and a half. This is what I want to show you about bullying in this place. Last week, I asked for a pair so I could go see some veterans last Friday. I gave you a week's notice. On the Friday morning, because I was out there, going for the cause for these people, because we wanted to split the bill and do the right thing, you said no. Yesterday, I asked so I could go and spend an hour last night with some veterans who are town and who are sick. You told me, no, I couldn't be paired. What you are doing Friday to Senator Tyrrell, just so you know—Senator Tyrrell would like to be paired Friday. Do you know why? Because her only niece, her sister's daughter, is walking out of police training and becoming a copper in Tasmania. But you know what you're doing? You're bastardising Senator Tyrrell. This is what you are doing. You won't give her a pair, because we don't agree with the legislation that you are putting through. You know what? That is bastardising or, as we like to call it when there is a relationship going on—

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Lambie, can you please resume your seat? Can you please withdraw the unparliamentary term that you used?

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With all due respect, it's called bastardisation in the military. It is bastardising.

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have asked you if you would withdraw that unparliamentary language. We had this conversation last week. Would you please withdraw.

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that you get advice from the clerk.

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't want to take up your time that you have available to you, but I have made a ruling and I've asked you to withdraw the unparliamentary language, please.

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw. Let's say you're bullying because that's what you're doing: you are bullying. After the Kate Jenkins report, this is how you present it. It's okay to do this sort of stuff to workers. It's coercive power. That is what you're using on Senator Tyrrell, and it's absolutely disgraceful. You should be disgusted with yourselves.

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before Senator Rennick starts his speech, I ask senators to refrain from using language that we know is unparliamentary, and then I don't have to pull anyone up.