Senator Eric Abetz

Prime Minister  Kevin Rudd’s shallow and vacuous attacks on the Senate over the last two days are nothing more than a desperate attempt to distract from his massive failings on the mining tax, border protection, insulation and BER, to name but a few, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Eric Abetz, said today.

“Yesterday Mr Rudd staged a baby-kissing event to call on the Senate to “get out of the way” on paid parental leave – despite the fact he knew full well that it will be passed by the end of today”, Senator Abetz said.

“Then today, he calls a press conference to attack the Senate and call on it to pass the welfare reform legislation – again, legislation that the Coalition will not oppose through the Senate.”

“It now seems, according to Mr Rudd that the Senate should not only be a rubber stamp, it should not exist at all!”

“Mr Rudd is known to channel Mr Whitlam, now it seems he’s reviving Labor’s Whitlam-era position that the Senate should be abolished.”

“The facts are, the Coalition on its own cannot block any piece of legislation, and if legislation fails in the Senate it’s because Mr Rudd is unable to convince at least three separate parties or independent Senators of its merit.”

“Last year the Senate passed 136 of 151 Government bills – that’s some 90 percent of bills, a reasonable measure by any standard.”

“I suggest to the Prime Minister that he consider the words of his current Leader in the Senate, Senator Chris Evans when he said:”

The Senate has both a right and a responsibility to debate and review legislation—this legislation and all other legislation that comes before the parliament. That is what Australians expect from this chamber
-Senate Hansard, 14 June 2005.