Senator STERLE (Western Australia) (15:07): If anyone were new to the conversation here, they would think that these 'pillars of virtue' and 'everything good about Australia' had an argument. But, seriously, you mob had nine years. What the heck did you do for nine years? It is fantastic to talk about all these so-called great nation-building projects, but you didn't fund them and you didn't make any effort to build them. Mr Deputy President, please indulge me, because this has been a wide-ranging question time today, and those over that side really talked some nonsense about infrastructure. I have been tied up in the infrastructure portfolio through Senate estimates for over 17 years. Senator Wong: A long time. Senator STERLE: I know; I don't know what I did wrong in certain parts of my previous life, but I do remember a lot of stuff. But, seriously, how can we look at that side of the chamber, the opposition, and see any credibility. Let's talk about a certain infrastructure project—and I bet that mob over there doesn't raise it in Senate estimates this time around. Remember Leppington Triangle? Remember that piece of land that was valued at $3 million? And what about the new airport being built in Sydney? I am not pointing figures, but that lot over there have their fingerprints all over it. That land was valued at $3 million and was owned by no less than a well-known LNP donor. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator STERLE: I will take 25 steps out there. I do not need the protection of parliament to make this statement because it is damn true. Do you know what they bought it for? I think Mr Barnaby Joyce was the minister at the time. It was valued at $3 million. Did they pay $3 million or $3.5 million? No. Did they pay $5 million? No. You'll notice that no-one over there is interjecting. Did they pay $6 million or $7 million? No. Do you know what paid? Do you know what they took out of our pockets—out of the pockets of Australians; out of the pockets of all you out there in the gallery; and out of the pockets of all you out there in radio land? They paid $30 million. Do I hear any objections? Where are the big voices on the opposition benches? Not one of them is saying boo. There are some decent people on that side of the chamber. Senator Scarr interjecting— Senator STERLE: I am not accusing my good friend Senator Scarr—who has to fire up and take one for the team. Don't lower yourself, Senator Scarr. You know that you are better than that. Do I hear The Nationals? There are couple of Nats on that side of the chamber. They are very decent people. I have worked very closely with a couple of them, and I look forward to working closely with them in Senate estimates for the next few days or week. Do I hear any objection? Do I hear, 'Sterle, you big mouth; you're telling lies'? Fancy that. $30 million. On a more serious note—I know, there's a lot more. Nine years of rorting and waste. You've got to give it to Senator McKenzie, she's got more front than Myer. We remember her situation there when she got dumped as the minister for—what was it, the 'Minister for Colour Coded Sports Rorts' or whiteboards or something like that? Spreadsheets. That's what it was. Let me share another with you, Mr Deputy President. It is very difficult, on a serious note. It's none of my business who the opposition choose as their leadership team, and thank goodness I don't get a vote in that madhouse. But I do struggle looking on the television each night—I'm sorry, I don't know Ms Ley's seat. If anyone can tell me the seat, I'll refer to her as the member for— Senator Davey: Farrer. Senator STERLE: Thank you very much, Senator Davey. The Minister for Farrer—who was a government minister on a very attractive wage and remuneration. She was sacked from the ministry. It's a well-known fact, very well documented. I think it was eight taxpayer funded trips she had to the Gold Coast. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Sterle, I have a point of order. Senator Davey? Senator Davey: I think you'll find that she resigned from the ministry. The shadow minister for industry and member for Farrer resigned for the ministry, at the time. She was not fired. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: It's not a debating point, Senator Davey, it's a point of order. Senator Sterle, if you're going to talk about another member of the two chambers, please turn your mind back— Senator STERLE: Deputy President, it's not gossip; it's not hearsay. It's well documented. Let's go with 'the minister resigned' because she used her taxpayers' dollars for eight trips to the Gold Coast to buy a unit on the Gold Coast from, I'm led to believe, if my memory serves me right—let me see; it might have been a friend of her husband's or partner's—an LNP donor. Seriously, you attack us? You come in here and throw barbs about credibility! Nine years? No wonder the Australian public do not have faith in politicians and the political system. Can you dare even think why I would be wrong? No, because that's the scene that was set on that side. I could go on hour after hour about the rorts, the $650-odd million carpark rorts. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Sterle.