Yesterday in the other place the Minister for Veterans said this:
…when you push the war widows and when you the push the veterans out of your way, when you get there first, you will get your chance …
That was in response to a question from the opposition about what the Minister for Veterans is doing to prepare for Anzac Day. I met with the Kew RSL last Friday. They are very concerned that there will not be an ability for them to have a dawn service or indeed our annual march the week before Anzac Day, because the Minister for Veterans is too interested in ridiculous and pathetic insults being lobbed at the opposition. He is a hopeless minister—
The SPEAKER: Order! I warn against reflections on ministers in the other place—
Mr T SMITH: Well, Speaker, this man is a grub. He ought to resign for what he said about the opposition members in the upper house—
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Kew will resume his seat. It is in order for the member to raise concerns with the actions and comments of the minister, but I ask the member not to reflect directly on the minister in the other place.
Mr T SMITH: It is very difficult not to reflect on the Minister for Veterans. He should resign from that post, because what he said yesterday was beyond the pale. It was beyond the pale for any fair-minded Victorian to insult the opposition in such a way, and indeed any member of Parliament. No-one goes to Anzac Day ceremonies to make a political point; we go there to remember the 60 000 Australians that died in World War I.