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Friday, 25 November 2011
Page: 9707

Senator MILNE (Tasmania—Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens) (16:22): I rise this afternoon to support the motion that standing orders be suspended so that the motion may be dealt with now. The reason for that is we need to take a very serious look at what is going on here. There has been a very clear attempt by Senator Abetz through this process to effectively put in place a SLAPP writ, which will stand over the next few months unanswered so that Senator Abetz can do as he did this morning: get on ABC radio in Tasmania and put this out as far and wide as he can. As for a notion about the spirit of Christmas, this has been a carefully planned SLAPP suit, effectively, from Senator Abetz on the last day of sitting. This matter of the sale of the woodchip mill is five months old. Why is it that it has taken Senator Abetz this long to spend so much time getting everything that is already on the public record? He has no case to answer.

The interesting difference is that had the President asked for any kind of explanation he would have discovered that Senator Brown, on the public record—which was not presented by Senator Kroger in her dossier—made a very clear explanation as to the donation that was made to the Australian Greens, whereas for the matter in relation to Senator Boswell the explanation did not come until after the whole thing was made public, and that is when the response came in here. But that is beside the point that I want to make here.

In relation to procedural fairness, I heard what Senator Evans had to say, but the fact of the matter is Senator Kroger was informed 1½ hours before the President made his statement that he intended to do so. A journalist was notified by somebody, and maybe Senator Kroger would like to explain how that occurred if the President did not allow that to come specifically into the gallery for that particular notice. What is more, having informed Senator Kroger this would occur, neither Senator Brown nor myself were informed by the President that he intended to make a statement in which we would be named.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Senator MILNE: This is the problem with the conservatives. They cannot stand to listen to someone without interjecting. I am just trying to make the point—

Senator Fifield: Mr Deputy President, on a point of order: it looked as though Senator Di Natale was trying to film the chamber on his BlackBerry.

Senator Di Natale interjecting—

Senator Fifield: Maybe he wasn't, but that is certainly how it appeared.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Fifield, thank you for that notation but Senator Di Natale has assured us he has not been taking photographs, and senators know that it is not appropriate.

Senator MILNE: The Senate really needs to think about the fact that we have a Senate chamber of which we should all be proud. It is a real privilege to serve the Australian community in our capacity as senators. However, what we have witnessed in the last few weeks is a level of personal abuse, nastiness and hatred that I have not witnessed in all the years that I have been in the Senate. I have never known the level of personal vitriol that has come across this chamber. There have been many occasions when senators could have, from the other side of the chamber, responded but have chosen not to and have risen above it.

What we have ended up with at the end of the year is a SLAPP suit from Senator Abetz, delivered by Senator Kroger, designed for a political outcome. It is unjust and is, in a serious way, compromising the whole process of privilege. As the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said a little while ago, 'The Privileges Committee is an incredibly serious thing,' and all we have had since then is an attempt by several senators—ranging from Senator Bernardi to Senator Macdonald to Senator Abetz—to get up in all of their speeches and use this opportunity to maintain a public case. It is wrong and unjust. (Time expired)

Question put:

That the motion (Senator Bob Brown's) be agreed to.

The Senate divided. [16:32]

(The President—Senator Hogg)

Question negatived.