Fifield, Sen Mitch

Senator FIFIELD (Victoria—Minister for Communications, Minister for the Arts and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:21): I absolutely reject the false premise upon which your question is based. I speak on behalf of all my Liberal and Nationals colleagues when I say that we are extremely proud of our track record and of our history on firearms controls, and it is, indeed, one of those areas most often cited by political opponents when they're looking for something positive to say about John Howard—so I do acknowledge that graciousness from those opposite—that this side of politics has been very strong, very fearless and very principles based when it comes to firearms control.