Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

I appreciate that those opposite have the numbers in the House. Speaking of numbers, how many of those opposite have ever run a small business—not into the ground but just run a small business? Not many. Let's do little bit more interaction. How many of those opposite have been a member of a union for more 21 years? Again, not many. I've run a small business, and I've run a successful small business. I've also been a union member for 21 years—

I'm getting a few claps. I appreciate the role of unions. I do. I come from south-west New South Wales where the shearers' strikes of the 1890s were in some way a genesis for the union movement. But I have also seen what the destructive power of unions does. I also see that the members opposite are the best money that unions can buy—$100 million since 2007 straight into the ALP coffers—and that is why we're rushing through this particular policy at this particular time. Why the rush? Why not, as so many of the stakeholders have said, just consider this; look at it in detail; make sure that it is considered, practical, effective. No, no, no. That wouldn't be in time for the union Christmas parties, would it? That is why it should be called 'payback.' It's called the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022. I've got to say—I'll give you some credit—'secure jobs, better pay'; you're very good at politics, not that good at policy. And that's the problem with this. It is an ill-named bill. It's not about secure jobs, it's not about better pay, and deep in your heart of hearts you know it.

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