Senator ROBERT RAY (3:17 PM) —Senator Ferris did get one thing right in her contribution: she should have been heard in silence, because it was only through that that we could understand the total vacuousness of her contribution. She said that Senator Lundy should get to her feet and defend herself. Senator Lundy is here and will do so. Where is Senator McGauran? Hiding under a desk somewhere.

Today Senator Alston, in defending the rapacious behaviour of the McGauran family, simply tried to divert attention. We are happy with the comparisons. We are happy to compare the two cases. Let us take the first point: Senator Lundy declared her directorship in Woden tradies club on her pecuniary interest form. You go back and search those forms to find either Minister McGauran or Senator Julian McGauran mentioning poker machines on their pecuniary interest declaration. It is simply not there. In the case of Senator Lundy, it is absolutely there for everyone to see.

The second major point is that Senator Lundy has no personal financial interest in poker machines—none whatsoever. But what do Senator McGauran and Minister McGauran have? They are getting about two hundred grand a year off them. That is a direct benefit of $200,000 into the family trust protected by advantageous tax arrangements—that is what they have got. Senator Lundy does not get a director's fee. She does not get anything to do with that.

Thirdly, let us go to motive. If Senator Lundy is guilty, why did she vote directly against the self-interests of Woden tradies club? She battled it out in the chamber here for division after division, and the very point she was putting hurt the financial interests of the Woden tradies club. But you look at the other two: Minister McGauran and Senator McGauran. They consistently voted to line their own pockets—maybe not deliberately, but that was the effect of that. So on the three counts, there is no comparison. McGaurans: guilty, guilty, guilty. Lundy: not guilty, not guilty, not guilty. It is an open and shut case.

What did we find out today? We were wrong, and we admit it. We thought there were 70 poker machines down at Millers Inn in Altona, but we now find out that earlier last year they applied for five more. Guess what happened? The local council said no. The local council opposed it and knocked it off because they judged it was injurious to the local population. They made the decision that this would increase the misery levels in that community. What did the McGaurans do? They took it to administrative appeal. What did the McGaurans do? They hired the expensive lawyers and they got their extra five machines to bring in to that institution yet another $300,000 or more per year. You do not see the refugees from the Ponderosa in East Gippsland putting poker machines in their own community. Of course not. The nouveaux riches like going out into the working class suburbs of Melbourne and fleecing the battlers that they say they represent. They love doing that. They love living off the misery of gambling revenue and enriching themselves. That is what they like to do. They talk a good talk in here about the battlers, and they come in here and criticise the banks. They do all that and meanwhile, full of hypocrisy, full of double standards, they are out ripping off the poor punters of Altona. That is their speciality. That is what they do. There is nothing more—

Government senators interjecting—

Senator Ferris —Comfortable in the gutter.

Senator ROBERT RAY —Senator Ferris, do you endorse their double standards, through you, Madam Deputy President? Do you endorse them?

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —Order! When Senator Ferris was speaking, she requested that I keep the noise down on my left. I did that and she was heard in relative silence. I would ask that Senator Ferris and Senator Mason, in particular, and also Senator Ferguson, who is putting his contribution in, allow Senator Ray to finish his 40 seconds and keep order in this place. Thank you.

Senator ROBERT RAY —As I was saying, they talk the good talk on that side. Their Prime Minister—and I agree with him on this—highlights the question of problem gambling in this community. Maybe it is his background but, being a punter myself, I agree with him. What I cannot stand is this mob opposite taking that stance but taking the money as well—taking $1 million a year into one family with two representatives in this parliament. That is the height of hypocrisy, that is the height of insincerity and it really reminds you of the old mine owners taking the Christmas hamper around. (Time expired)