Senator ABETZ (Tasmania—Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service and Minister for Employment) (14:21): I have a funny feeling that the Prime Minister will not take as long to make a decision in relation to Senator Sinodinos as the Labor Party did in relation to Craig Thomson. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on my left! Order on both sides! Senator ABETZ: Let me make this point very clear: if I had a choice between Craig Thomson or Senator Sinodinos, it would be Senator Sinodinos every single day, every single hour, every single second! As we know, there are processes— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Pause the clock. Order! We will not proceed until there is silence. Senator Conroy, Senator Carr, Senator Brandis and Senator Wong—order! We are wasting time. On my right! Senator Faulkner: Are you really comparing Craig Thomson to Senator Sinodinos? The PRESIDENT: On my left! Senator Conroy interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Conroy! Senator ABETZ: It took a whole minute or more for Senator Faulkner to think of that interjection. Of course what it shows is the gross hypocrisy of the Leader of the Australia Labor Party, who ran and helped run the defence of Craig Thomson without any concern whatsoever other than the capacity to cling to power. Let us make the point very clear: that the Labor Party cannot come into this place making the sorts of assertions that they have tried to in relation to my very good friend Senator Arthur Sinodinos, a man by whom I am very proud to stand. Senator Sinodinos, voluntarily stood aside for the purposes of ICAC. I think all of us are disappointed that ICAC in New South Wales is taking longer than might otherwise have been expected. Due process will take its course. But can I simply say that Senator Sinodinos enjoys, more importantly, not only the confidence of myself but also all of his Senate colleagues. Senator Wong: What about the Prime Minister? Senator Abetz: And the Prime Minister as well.