STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr ROB MITCHELL (McEwen) (13:56): Elections in Australia are supposed to be fair, free and about democracy. But what we saw at the last election was a deliberate campaign run by those opposite with the Exclusive Brethren and the Neo-Nazi mates out there harassing people on election booths. People who were going for their very first time to vote were harassed by their mates out there—mates that don't vote and don't pay tax.

But they were happy to hand over bags of cash to the Liberal Party for support. You've got to ask: why? Why would you want to subvert the course of democracy?

Why would this be the reason for you turning up to a polling booth? The real question coming up now is: will we see the same thing happen in the Victorian election this year? We know the exact same characters that were in the McEwen Liberal campaign are the exact same characters in the Yan Yean campaign and the Macedon campaign.

We had lots of people come in who'd never been here before and just absolutely harassed people the entire time through prepoll and the entire time through election day. It's something that we should absolutely stamp out to make sure that this country has its democracy fair. Freedom is the most important part of it—and to not have thugs come in in their Neo-Nazi shirts and harass people that didn't do anything.

It's bad enough that Senator Canavan supports it. Those opposite are supporting Neo-Nazis and Brethren churches, affecting democracy. (Time expired) The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Claydon ): The member for Wannon has the call.

Mr Tehan: No, I don't have the call. I'd like the member for McEwen to withdraw that. That was an imputation and a slur.

He should withdraw that. Do you want me to say the same about you? The SPEAKER: The member for Wannon will withdraw.

I'm going to handle this. I don't want anyone being slurred in this parliament. I think, on the final day of this sitting, I'm going to ask that there be no slurs during question time.

We'll start with the member for McEwen withdrawing. Mr Rob Mitchell: I withdraw.