Senator O'SULLIVAN (Queensland) (12:40): Can I say to you, Acting Deputy President Whish-Wilson: it is about a legacy. This is about a legacy. It's your legacy. It's about the introduction of a bill into the Queensland parliament that will provide for unfettered late-term abortions of children based on gender selection. That's the legacy that I'm interested in. We had a motion here today where we fretted about testing cosmetics and the like on animals in laboratories. That went through this place without resistance. No-one denied formality. But because I moved a motion relating to late-term, partial-birth abortions and presented it to the floor of this Senate, you, Senator Collins, denied me formality. Senator Jacinta Collins: No, I did not. Senator O'SULLIVAN: You denied me formality, so the position is— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Whish-Wilson ): Senator O'Sullivan, take your seat, please. Senator Collins, on a point of order? Senator Jacinta Collins: The statement made by Senator O'Sullivan is factually incorrect. Another senator denied formality; it was not myself. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: That's not a point of order. Senator O'Sullivan. Senator O'SULLIVAN: Dear, oh, dear. Your party, of which you are one of the chief strategists, denied me formality on a motion that I think is probably the most significant question that would come before our minds as legislators in this nation—the protection of babies that are within seconds of full life, with a name and a future. I know you find it absolutely abhorrent that I would raise and start to describe the procedures around— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator O'Sullivan, could I just remind you to address your comments to the chair. Senator O'SULLIVAN: I'm speaking expansively, sir, but I will face you if you need me to. Colleagues here find abhorrent the thought of partial-birth abortions—the brutality of it—based on gender selection. We know it's occurring. They know it's occurring. They don't want this. Senator Collins failed to mention why—and I know why—they don't want my motion tested on the floor of this parliament. It's because there are decent members in the Australian Labor Party who will support the motion. You can't afford to have that happen when your state arm of the ALP— Senator Marshall: No, there isn't. Senator O'SULLIVAN: I'll take the interjection, through you, Mr Acting Deputy President. It's been confirmed now that there are no Labor members—let the world see and hear—who would resist a law that will allow for late-term abortions on gender selection. Now, I don't think that's true. I know some of your people are very decent and very exercised about this. And, if it's true, let my motion go to the floor. I will test this again and seek leave to put my motion—a significant, important motion—back on the Notice Paper. The people of Australia are entitled to see where you sit on this question. The people who vote for you and put you in here are entitled to know where you sit. Senator Faruqi interjecting— Senator O'SULLIVAN: I know where you sit, Senator, on this. We've heard from you and some of your colleagues. It's clear: late-term abortions are almost a policy of the Australian Greens. Senator Steele-John: Give it a rest. Sit down. Senator O'SULLIVAN: You can holler all you want. In answer to your question about my system, Senator Collins, I will deny leave and I will deny formality— Senator Di Natale: You're a pig. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: It being 12.45, the time for debate has expired. A point of order, Senator O'Sullivan? Senator O'Sullivan: Senator Di Natale just twice called me a pig. This is what this has deteriorated to. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Di Natale, it would assist the chair if you withdrew those comments. Senator Di Natale: I called Senator O'Sullivan a pig for stating that the policy of the Australian Greens— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Di Natale, this is not a chance to give an explanation. Senator Di Natale: was for late term abortions. That is false, and I ask him to withdraw those comments. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Di Natale, I will say again: it would assist the chair if you would withdraw those comments. Senator Di Natale: I ask Senator O'Sullivan to withdraw the comments that he made. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: The Clerk's advice to me is that it was a debating point made during a debate, and he has nothing to withdraw, as much as you may disagree with it, but I do ask you to withdraw the personal imputation on Senator O'Sullivan. Senator Di Natale: I withdraw the word 'pig' and I replace it with 'a disgraceful individual'.