Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is great to have the opportunity to finish the remarks I was making to the House last week, when we last had this debate on the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill 2013, when we interrupted the debate to proceed with question time. At the time, I was reflecting on the fact that, for me, it is quite odd to stand here in this chamber and say that I agree with the Australian Industry Group, in their reflections on this matter, in calling for extra time for this legislation. It is an odd place to be when employers and employees agree that we need more time for this transition to occur. On a day like today, it is another opportunity to remind the House of why it is so important that our registered organisations, whether they be unions or employers' organisations, have the opportunity to exist and to exist in a society where they can have freedom of association.

In the final few minutes that I have allocated in this debate, I would like to finish where I began, and that is by reflecting on the outrageous and laughable remarks that have been made by this government on being 'the friend of hardworking people'. It has been mentioned today already that, in the case of Holden workers, the government has failed to support the industry, to invest to ensure that those jobs are locked in. Twenty-four hours ago we also saw this government demonstrate how much it is the friend of early childhood educators—by axing the fund that would see their wages dramatically increased!

It is clear and obvious that this government is not the friend of workers and is now trying to prevent the organisations that seek to represent them existing in this area without extra burden and extra regulation, and to not allow them to do their duties.

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