MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: For more on Senate voting reform I'm joined live in the studio by Labor's Leader in the Senate, Penny Wong. Penny Wong, good morning.
SENATOR PENNY WONG, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE: Good morning, good to be with you.
BRISSENDEN: Is Labor expecting to go to the polls early in a double dissolution election?
WONG: You'd have to say if the Government is going to ram this bill through, which it is, ramming the biggest changes in 30 years through the Parliament, a half-day sham enquiry today, the bill coming into the Senate tomorrow - they must be writing the report already ahead of the enquiry - you'd expect that the only reason they want to do that is because they want a double dissolution.
I think that's what the Government at the moment is set for. Obviously ultimately it's a matter for them.
BRISSENDEN: Your own internal party review suggested that Labor should support the changes initially. Why wouldn't you support changes that would in effect make a more representative group of people in the Senate and remove people who are basically elected, as you know, on less than one per cent of the vote?
WONG: The fact that there are issues with the gaming of the current system doesn't mean you have to sign up to this system, and that's the problem with the Government's position, the problem with the Greens position.We're up for a discussion about senate reform but-
BRISSENDEN: -So you're happy to see it reformed but just not this way, is that right?
WONG: The model that's been chosen and the process that's been undertaken I think will ensure that there are errors and anomalies.We've seen the Government already having to put amendments into the House because they forgot to put a provision in for the votes to be counted on election night.But more importantly, I do have an issue and Labor does have an issue with a system which means that the one in four Australians who cast their vote for someone other than the Coalition, the Labor party or the Greens can essentially have their vote exhausted.I think there are better ways of looking at reform. Unfortunately the Government hasn't been prepared to do that and the Greens have signed up.
 
And I just do want to make a point about what will happen if there is a double dissolution.The two bills at the moment which could go to a joint sitting of the Parliament, which would mean they'd be passed if the Government were returned, are a bill, the Registered Organisations Bill, which the Greens have opposed rightly because it attacks trade unions, and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.So a double dissolution that the Greens are participating in could deliver the abolition of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.They need to explain-
BRISSENDEN: -It's more likely to be fought on the building and construction legislation, doesn't it really?
WONG: It depends what goes to the joint sitting. And as you know, you've been around for a while, what the Government fights on doesn't mean it doesn't have other triggers it can put to the joint sitting.
BRISSENDEN: What about delaying the start date? Some crossbenchers are pushing for a delay to at least prevent the changes being used in a double dissolution.I mean there's no benefit for the Government going for a DD then, is there?
WONG: Well, there are a lot of options and amendments which are being considered by the Senate and-
BRISSENDEN: -Would you support that?
WONG: I'm certainly open to having a conversation with other senators about amendments to the bill.One of the things, the start date is one of them; another is a set of reforms to election funding which is consistent with Labor policy and also consistent with what Lee Rhiannon has been calling for.So, we look forward to the Greens support on those.
BRISSENDEN: Okay, but you would be, you would, as you say, you'd be prepared to support, you'd be prepared to at least look at it?
WONG: We are prepared to look at reasonable amendments to this legislation.
BRISSENDEN: A double dissolution election of course would mean there'd be no time to pass the budget. What is Labor's formal position on supply? Clearly it's an issue, a historical issue for the Labor Party.
WONG: Well, the only party that has blocked supply is the Coalition, is the Liberal Party.Obviously it's up to the Government if that's part of their plan to bring that to us and bring that to the Senate.
But what I would say is it does demonstrate, this is a Government that is pretty much all over the place.Theyre ramming this through, there's no tax policy, they're desperately considering whether or not they bring through a supply bill because they might not actually want to deliver a budget or they won't have time to get their budget through.Now I don't know what the strategy is. I hope Malcolm Turnbull does. If you were a Liberal you'd hope he does because it doesn't look like a strategy from the outside.
BRISSENDEN: But there's no way you'd countenance any blocking of supply?
WONG: The Labor Party has long made its view clear about that.
BRISSENDEN: And there haven't been any discussions around that at all? WONG: No, the Government hasn't brought its plans to us or to the Senate. The only plan it's brought is a plan to ensure that the minor parties are purged now and forever, and the minor parties and independents are purged now and forever from the Senate.
BRISSENDEN: You were instrumental in securing funding in the Safe Schools program in 2013. If we can just talk about that for a minute. Did you envision that it would become such a divisive political issue?
WONG: I didn't think that fair minded people might have such a problem with trying to ensure children aren't bullied, harassed, abused, that we try and lower the rates of self-harm and suicide amongst young people, LGBTI young people.I didn't think people would have such an issue with their children being taught acceptance and tolerance.The extent to which the hard right will go to perpetuate their views and frankly their prejudices I think has been a sight to behold.
BRISSENDEN: Did it go too far perhaps? I mean does it need, for instance, to ask 11 year olds to imagine they are in a same-sex relationship?
WONG: My view about this is that educators, teachers who are probably more qualified with respect than you and I to decide how things should be taught, are the people who should make these decisions.And it is a resource, as I understand it, schools can sign up, teachers can be provided with support, teaching materials, and teachers will, I'm sure, will choose what they think is appropriate for their classroom.What I don't think is reasonable is this being turned into such a nasty debate. Can you imagine if you were a 15 year old boy who was struggling with who he is, how this debate would be playing.
BRISSENDEN: But do you understand some parents have concerns about these sorts of issues being raised with their 11 year old, Year 7 children?
WONG: I think as a parent, you know, there are always things you think about and consider about when you speak to your children about certain things, but fundamentally I hope most parents would be of the view we should teach our children tolerance.That's not a bad thing, to teach kids empathy.
BRISSENDEN: Penny Wong, thanks for joining us.
WONG: Good to be with you.
BRISSENDEN: Labor's Leader in the Senate, Penny Wong.
 
ENDS