DOCUMENTS

Senator COLLINS (New South Wales—Deputy Opposition Whip in the Senate) (19:12): I'm also pretty disgusted with the process that we've seen here, a one-eyed process. I think we've heard it described as hyperpartisan. Even just reading the chair's foreword on this, I saw the words, 'Democracy was under assault.' We had people show up in droves to participate in our democratic election.

It was under assault! The foreword continues: … the growing threat of aggressive third party involvement has shaken the foundations of the voting process … assault on democracy … institutionalised intimidation. Well, do you know what I feel about this report that's been handed down by the chair, Jerome Laxale?

I feel like this is intimidation to people in our society. I feel like this is intimidating for this institution, the Brethren. How is that okay?

When it comes to the next election, how do you think they're going to feel about coming and participating in our democracy now that this witch-hunt— Senator Whish-Wilson: They don't vote. Senator COLLINS: Well, that is an absolute lie. I will take that interjection from Senator Whish-Wilson.

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Grogan ): Okay, we'll have some order, thank you. I will— Senator COLLINS: I spoke to some. That is a lie.

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Collins, resume your seat. We will continue this debate in an orderly fashion, and hurling abuse and names at each other across the chamber is really not helping. Senator Collins, please continue.

Senator COLLINS: I want to bring it back to another statement that we have in here: … we shouldn't fear applying remedy when needed. Well, that just sounds like a government that wants more control over the democratic process. We heard from Senator Shoebridge that the Brethren didn't want to appear.

Well, five times they offered to appear, so I just want to put that on the record. Senator Colbeck: Including today. Senator COLLINS: Including today.

There were no progressive-leaning entities that were at this inquiry, and it only leads us to the conclusion that this was a religiously motivated witch-hunt. An honourable senator interjecting— Senator COLLINS: Well, how else do you see it? Why don't we have the unions come forward?

Why is it just one particular—okay, I will give you an example. I spent two weeks on Jerome Laxale's prepoll—the MP for Bennelong. His Labor volunteers, with Labor shirts on, were haranguing me: 'What religion are they?

Tell me.' I said, 'What business is it of yours?' They asked, 'What religion?' I said, 'It is absolutely not your right to ask that.' And they persevered, 'They're Brethren, aren't they?' What does it matter? They're there to participate in a democratic process. And I will say that, in my two weeks, yes, tensions were high—in a two-week prepoll where you have hundreds upon hundreds of people turning up, frustrated with the government, to cast their vote.

It was like election day every day. If you want to sort that problem out, shorten prepoll. It's a very easy fix.

There's no need to have election day every day for two weeks in a row. We had a person turn up to our booth who was wielding a knife. They went to three booths in the area wielding a knife, coming at volunteers there to participate in democracy and people there to cast their vote.

I'll tell you who it was that protected all of us, all of the constituents. It was the Brethren. And my experience over those two weeks was that they were respectful, and I will take the opportunity to put on the record—it's very interesting that the Greens aren't bothering to listen to this, because this is my evidence and my contribution.

My experience on Jerome Laxale's booth was that there were videos taken that were set up. There was a person who threw themselves in front of a car. I thought that person had fainted.

I went to help her. The Brethren came to help—give her food, water, a chair. She tried to blame it on us.

There are other instances that I will not go into today, because I just don't think that's helpful. But I want to put on the record that this inquiry was totally one sided. I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.