STATEMENTS BY SENATORS
Senator SHELDON (New South Wales—Chief Government Whip in the Senate) (13:54): Every day, we're hearing new revelations about the extent of the relationship between the Liberal Party and the Exclusive Brethren and their Neo-Nazi associates. As we all know, at the last election, the Liberal Party worked hand in glove with the Exclusive Brethren to influence, coerce and intimidate voters and candidates across the country.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Liberals and the Brethren were coordinating with known Neo-Nazi associates throughout the campaign. The Brethren senior leadership were paying these Nazi associates to stalk members of parliament and candidates and to harass them as they engaged in their communities or in media events. We know Peter Dutton employed a staffer, Sam Jackson-Hope, in his office to help coordinate the Brethren and Neo-Nazi campaign.
But we've heard new revelations that Mr Jackson-Hope is now working for opposition leader Angus Taylor. You might think that when Mr Taylor heard Neo-Nazis— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator O'Sullivan ): Senator Henderson? Senator Henderson: Acting Deputy President, on a point of order, the reflection on the opposition leader and on one of his staff is outrageous and I ask that it be withdrawn.
There is absolutely no truth to what has been claimed and it needs to be immediately withdrawn. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Sheldon, you are naming an individual who hasn't got the right to defend themselves here in this place. I ask you to reflect on that.
I can't ask you to withdraw, because there's no particular breach of any standing order, but I ask you to please consider your comments carefully. Senator Henderson? Senator Henderson: Senator Sheldon was reflecting on a member in the other place and that is a breach of the standing orders.
On that basis, I ask that that egregious, false comment be withdrawn. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Chisholm, on the point of order? Senator Chisholm: Yes, there was no reflection at all on the Leader of the Opposition, so there is no point of order.
The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: I'll rule. I'm going to ask that we just move on. I've listened carefully.
I don't believe there's a breach of standing orders and my job is to enforce the standing orders. Senator Sheldon, please be careful. Senator SHELDON: You might think that, when Mr Taylor heard that Neo-Nazis had been engaged to help with the Liberals last election campaign, he'd want to distance himself from that, but, instead, he's gone and hired the staffer who orchestrated the whole thing.
What does that tell you about the member for Hume's judgement? Perhaps he doesn't care if white supremacists are giving him a leg-up. Mr Taylor needs to come clean and tell us how it's appropriate for Mr Jackson-Hope to be working in his office.
He needs to come clean and say why Mr Jackson-Hope's role in coordinating the Brethren campaign was appropriate. If he's comfortable with Neo-Nazi associates working on his campaign, he should come clean and tell us all that that's the go, because it's inappropriate. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Henderson?
Senator Henderson: On a point of order, that is a direct reflection on Mr Taylor in breach of the standing orders. There is no doubt about that. I ask that that be withdrawn.
The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator McAllister? Senator McAllister: On the same point of order, I listened carefully to Senator Sheldon's contribution. Senator Sheldon did not reflect on Mr Taylor.
Senator Sheldon is simply, as every senator in this place has a right to do, making an argument about the standards of behaviour in public life. The PRESIDENT: Whilst it's not really the type of language we want to see in the chamber, it was not a direct slur, as I understand it, so there is no need to withdraw. Senator Henderson, I've put my point of view; please resume your seat.
It can't be referred. It needs to be dealt with in the chamber. I've explained my position; please resume your seat.
Senator Henderson, which bit of 'resume your seat' do you not understand? Resume your seat! I explained to the chamber and I'll explain once again.
I didn't hear anything. I have just entered the chamber. If a reflection on a senator is made, it needs to be dealt with in the chamber at the time.
It's not something you can refer back to me. I've conferred with the acting deputy. He expressed that he did not like the use of language, but he did not see it as a direct slur.
That's the end of the matter. Senator Sheldon, were you still in continuation? You've got seven seconds.
Senator SHELDON: My question is: is he comfortable with Neo-Nazi associates working on his campaign? He should come out and say so.