Senator KERNOT (Leader of the Australian Democrats)(6.48 p.m.) —Senator Ian Macdonald's speech shows why he is on the backbench and why Prime Minister Howard has overlooked him. For six years in this chamber, we have heard nothing but bile and vitriol from you against the Australian Democrats. You did not even have the graciousness today to restrain this bile and vitriol straight after the first speech of our newest senator. Such is the level of it. Is this a reflection of the new parliamentary standards of the government? I see it as the same old business. I guess one day Senator Ian Macdonald's deep and dark psychological reasons for this pathological hatred of the Democrats, and me in particular, might be explained. But from day one, not knowing Senator Ian Macdonald before I came to this place—

Senator Ian Macdonald —I hate to stop Senator Kernot in the midst of this very interesting speech—

Senator KERNOT —Oh, go ahead.

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT (Senator WEST) —Are you rising on a point of order, Senator Macdonald?

Senator KERNOT —What do you—

Senator Ian Macdonald —Don't panic. I am desperately keen to hear your speech. I just want to confirm that I had leave to incorporate these documents.

Opposition members interjecting—

Senator Ian Macdonald —I did. I did say.

Senator Neal —There is no objection, but I do note that you did leave out the central coast of New South Wales.

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT —Would you like to do it at the end of Senator Kernot's speech, please, so that we do not disrupt her.

Senator KERNOT —We all know exactly why Senator Ian Macdonald rose at that time. I will just say it all again, Senator Ian Macdonald. One day, the deep and dark psychological reasons for your pathological hatred of the Australian Democrats, and me in particular, may be explained. It is absolutely a mystery to us. We did not know each other at all before we came into this chamber, and from day one we were subjected to what I think is totally based on ideological prejudice and never opening your ears to listen. How ever, one of the real highlights of the federal election campaign in Queensland for me was Senator Ian Macdonald's own example of `nimby': Cheryl Kernot, not in my backyard. He put out a press release saying that his mission, specially designated to him in the federal election campaign, was to eliminate Cheryl Kernot from the Senate. Well, Senator Ian Macdonald, you failed spectacularly. For the record, I got the highest ever Democrat vote in Queensland. However you want to distort it, I got the highest ever.

Senator Neal —Did you get a quota?

Senator KERNOT —No, I did not get a quota. I wish I had but I did not.

Senator Abetz —How many quotas did you get?

Senator KERNOT —You know what it is like at the top of the ticket. You could not care less. Senator Macdonald, I think you should go and look at the preference distributions all around Australia and see that Democrats were elected substantially on green preferences, not Labor Party preferences. I wonder if you stopped to consider the way that Democrat preferences assisted the election of the Liberal Party candidate in Canning. Just don't be so selective. Don't let the facts get in the way of a good argument. You always overlook the Democrat practice—

Senator Ian Macdonald —Of voting with the Labor Party.

Senator KERNOT —No, the Democrat practice of what we call split tickets where we have attempted to be as even-handed to you as we have been to the Labor Party. I invite you to go back and look at every electorate. I wonder why, colleagues, through you, Madam Acting Deputy President, on the Liberal Party preference allocation, I was the only Democrat senator not to receive 100 per cent of Liberal Party preferences. I wonder if that had anything to do with Senator Ian Macdonald's physical presence in Queensland.

Senator Ian Macdonald —I have no idea what you are talking about.

Senator KERNOT —I think you should go back and look, Senator Macdonald. Queensland was the only state where the Liberal Party did not give me as a Democrat 100 per cent of preferences in the Senate.

Senator Ian Macdonald —We favoured the Greens.

Senator KERNOT —I don't care who you gave them to.

Senator Ian Macdonald —A far better party than yours.

Senator KERNOT —And we spectacularly outpolled them, didn't we? Three to one, Senator Macdonald.

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT (Senator West) —Senator Kernot, would you like to address your remarks to the chair? It might reduce the number of interjections.

Senator KERNOT —I will try very hard. You must admit, Madam Acting Deputy President, that I have been very restrained for six years. But seeing that Senator Macdonald's mission in life was to eliminate me from the Senate spurred me on to achieve my highest ever vote in Queensland. So thank you, Senator Ian Macdonald. I just want to point out to Senator Macdonald: bad luck. I was elected, I am here for six years, I am not bitter and twisted, I am still the leader of the party and I bet I have a better time than you do on the back bench.