Mary Fisher (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Minister, if you legislated 12 months ago in respect of not disadvantaging employees as well, then why does the government see fit to legislate the same half of its promise in a bill introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday but not see fit to do the same for the other half of the promise, which is to not increase costs for employers—which, of course, if not achieved, will fail to protect employees in any event? The business community are saying that this process will increase their costs and will cost jobs for employees. So, Minister, why the necessity, in the view of the government, to legislate 50 per cent of the promise made 12 months ago but not the other 50 per cent?