Senator WONG (9:49 AM) —Whatever happens in terms of the procedures, which I am sure will be worked out eventually, I think it is appropriate that the opposition has the opportunity to put its views in the Hansard in relation to both the motion and the rather extraordinary position that Senator Watson, and now the Manager of Government Business in the Senate, support. I make it clear that the Labor Party’s intention is to support Senator Milne’s motion. We do not support the establishment of nuclear power facilities in Australia. The government are yet again demonstrating how divided they are on the issue of nuclear power in Australia. We have had two question times now where Senator Abetz refused—

Senator Chapman —It is a matter of clarification. You are pathetic.

Senator WONG —Senator Chapman, will you rule out, as a senator for South Australia, supporting a nuclear facility in South Australia? Senator Minchin has refused to do so. You are refusing to do so. Senator Abetz refuses to rule out a facility being established in Tasmania. Now we have Senator Watson—against his party’s position, apparently, if Senator Ellison’s contribution is correct—saying, ‘We deny leave’—for a motion to be moved which simply endorses the existing law in Australia. The government is all over the place when it comes to nuclear power.

Senator Chapman —Senator Watson was seeking a clarification, and you know it. Tell the truth.

Senator WONG —Senator Chapman, you can heckle all you like, but in this election year people will understand that one of the major parties is completely equivocal on nuclear power and has said, ‘We will not allow the establishment of nuclear power facilities in Australia.’

Senator Chapman —You just dissemble. You don’t tell the truth. You tell lies.

The PRESIDENT —Order! Senator Chapman!

Senator WONG —I will take that interjection, Senator Chapman, which I think is probably unparliamentary.

The PRESIDENT —Senator Chapman, withdraw that remark.

Senator Chapman —I withdraw, Mr President.

Senator WONG —I invite Senator Chapman to indicate whether he is willing, as a South Australian senator, to rule out supporting the establishment of a nuclear power facility in his home state and I ask Senator Watson in which of the seats of Bass, Braddon, Denison, Franklin and Lyons he is happy to see a nuclear power facility established. Let us be clear. We have a government that does not know which way is up, does not know what it is doing on nuclear power and is entirely equivocal about it. The government clearly has people within its ranks who are quite happy to establish nuclear power facilities in various places in Australia.

Do you know what is really bad? The government are not prepared to come clean with the Australian public. They are not prepared to be honest and say: ‘Yes, we want to do it—and this is how we are going to do it. This is the process for consultation and this is the process for establishment.’ They have a go at us because, they say, we are shutting down the debate, but what do they want? They want a debate on their terms. They want to be able to debate it theoretically—to support nuclear power—but not have to front up to the Australian people and say where it is going to be and what the process for putting it in place will be.