Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

That is exactly what I am doing. If those members opposite care to read the first paragraph of the amendment, that is exactly what I am doing.

An honourable member: You should read it. You should read it again.

I've already done it; I've already read it.

I enjoy the opportunity to stand here and defend workers' rights in this country. Your government, the federal government, is making the lives of workers in this country very, very difficult. What you're also doing is increasing and driving up the cost of living for everyday Australians. And we're seeing that every day; the proof is in the pudding. Look at what has happened over the last 18 months, or is that a big joke? Is it a big joke that Australians are out there hurting? They are hurting because of this government's reckless regulatory policies, which are driving up the cost of doing business.

Every time a business has to pay more money, do you know what? That means that the end users, the customers, have to pay more money. Ultimately, customers, everyday working Australians, are bearing the brunt of this government's regulation, this government's absolute insistence on ensuring that it is constantly in the back pockets of every business in this country. Australians want this government out of their lives as quickly as possible. This opposition, on this side of the House, will be doing everything we possibly can to make sure that this term of government is as absolutely short as humanly possible.

I've had an opportunity to talk briefly about some of the pains that this government is forcing upon Australians, but I want to talk specifically about the building and construction sector. Those members opposite might know I was a chippie and a builder by trade for a number of years.

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