Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Very briefly, in relation to this I think, with respect, the minister is wrong and I will go through the reasoning as to why. But a very important principle here, which the minister I think inadvertently talked about, is—and potentially he is accepting this—that a small business can be sacrificed for the sake of trade union action. That is basically what he said: if they are further down the chain, should that one individual pie seller happen to go out of business it will have no economic effect generally on Australia, and these other workers should be entitled to have a strike even if it means a small business goes out the door backwards.

With the tests that we as a coalition are consistently applying to each one of these amendments, this is an example of one where there would be excessive union power at the expense of small business and jobs. I invite crossbench senators—and I understand that Senator Xenophon, who is at present standing next to the minister engaged in a conversation with government advisers, does need to speak to the minister and advisers from time to time—