House debates

Monday, 18 June 2012

Private Members' Business

Trade Unions

7:47 pm

Photo of Rob MitchellRob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

'Tell Paul Howes that,' says the member over there, yapping away. This is a bloke who thinks that this government is run by the left-wing feminazis—that is the credibility of his argument. The Corporations Act and what is involved in the regulation of organisations are two different things. That is very basic—I am pretty sure you would have learnt it in year 10 if you had gone through it. The registration of organisations and directors of corporations are not similar. They are similar in the sense that they have got to exercise care and due diligence, act with good faith and not improperly use their position for personal gain. But the differences in the entities are quite clear. Corporations are designed to generate wealth and protect financial interests for shareholders. Organisations like unions have rights under the Fair Work Act. And let us remember this is the Fair Work Act that your leader, Tony Abbott, put in place when he was industrial relations minister. So in its very first test it screwed up, and you want to blame us. The reality is you do not know how to make legislation, and that is the fault in it. (Time expired)

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