Kelly O'Dwyer (Higgins, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I was addressing the matters before the House, Mr Deputy Speaker. I know it is very uncomfortable for those opposite to be reminded that union leaders have a responsibility to their members. It is a responsibility they should take seriously.

If you want to talk about the abuse of individuals who are vulnerable and who pay their dues you need look no further than the HSU. Yet we have heard nothing from the government stating that they have any problem whatsoever with how this has occurred. I simply restate in the remaining time available to me on this bill that this is yet another expression by the government to show that their Fair Work Act has failed. This is an expression by this government that they are going to continue to wage a war against independent contractors. This is a government that is not concerned about jobs unless they are the jobs of their union mates. It is very unfortunate that we have a government so concerned with their own vested interests that they would put those before the national interest.

We believe that it is important for people to be paid properly for the work that they do. We believe that it is important for people, in whatever industry they are involved in, to have a safe, secure and fair working environment. But this bill certainly does not achieve that. It will enforce a discrimination against those who are independent contractors, people who are making a significant contribution to our country. It is yet again a demonstration of the multiple failures of the Labor government.

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