Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

They were stealing from drug and alcohol rehabilitation. I want to make an important point. The union movement contains within it the hardworking, decent members of Australia's community. What we are talking about here is the thuggery, intimidation and abuse of that authority by union members. There was a powerful opportunity today. The Labor Party, senators on that side of the chamber, could have come into this parliament and their efforts could have been talking about the importance of reform, the urgency of reform even. They could have taken their lead from the very effective op-ed in the Australian Financial Review today by former Prime Minister John Howard highlighting how in the past oppositions have lent their energies, their arm to important reform measures.