SENATOR PENNY WONG, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE: I Just wanted to make some comments about Nick Xenophon and his capitulation on water. Nick Xenophon said to South Australians last Saturday Im not going to deal with Government legislation unless you deliver every drop of water for South Australia under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Yet just a few days later hes voted with the Government without that guarantee. So, he got a good headline, said Im going to make sure we get all of our water, and what has he delivered? Not a single drop. Just more talking, and meanwhile hes voted with the Government over and over again.
I want to say this about Senator Xenophon, this is so disappointing. South Australians everywhere will be so disappointed in Senator Xenophon. South Australians everywhere have relied upon Senator Xenophon to be one of the people standing up for South Australia and it will be so disappointing to the people in our home state that he gave this guarantee and then backed away.
Now, what I would say to Senator Xenophon is this; I know you have got more influence on the crossbench. I know that having a few more votes gives you a lot more capacity to lean on Malcolm Turnbull, but dont forget where you came from. South Australians expected you to stand up for the River Murray and more importantly they expected you to deliver on the guarantee you gave just four days ago that there would be an absolute assurance that you would deliver every drop and you wouldnt let the Government put through legislation until you did so. That hasnt happened.
JOURNALIST: What did you make of the Governments procurement changes?
WONG: I suppose they were prepared to trade Guns for Votes, and now they appear to be trading a whole range of economic policy for votes. Obviously it was a big change. There were a few other big changes. The Government has obviously thrown a whole lot of other changes at this bill. In fact youd have to say, this bill is almost unrecognisable isnt it? Malcolm Turnbull is clearly so desperate and so concerned about Tony Abbott stalking him, hes gone Ive just got to get a bill through by the end of the year thats got ABCC in it Im prepared to agree to a whole range of amendments as long as its through.
JOURNALIST: The procurement changes though, specifically, is that something Labor would support?
WONG: Yes, Kim Carr said that last night. We welcome the changes. Its pretty extraordinary theyre coming from a Liberal Government.
JOURNALIST: Do you think it will be a done deal today?
WONG: I think its pretty clear that the Government has the numbers in the chamber and its unsurprising theyve been prepared to throw so many things at it.
But I would say this; its a bill thats very different from the bill that the Government took to the election. Its the same title but there have been a lot of amendments and I look forward to Malcolm Turnbull telling Bill Shorten that he was right when it comes to local jobs. Because the bill that he is about to get back to the House when the Senate votes on this has Labors policy on local jobs. So I look forward to Malcolm Turnbull telling Bill he was right.