Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

What a disgrace! So, for those who are obstructing buildings or traffic and causing people to have a reasonable fear of violence, 'No problem,' says the new Premier, 'Bring it on. Even if it is illegal and you are threatening and intimidating people, carry on'—nothing to see here from the CFMEU Premier, Daniel Andrews, in my home state of Victoria. It is absolutely abhorrent.

So do not come in here and pretend that you are seriously advocating for the workers of Australia or that you are here on their behalf. You are not; you are here on behalf of your union masters and your pre-selectors, and it has always been thus and ever will be. If you were not, you would join us to support a piece of proposed legislation that puts employer and employee organisations in the same position—no discrimination; everyone gets the same deal. The left is unhappy; the right is unhappy. We have got this one right. We have consulted and amended. Do the right thing by the good people of Australia and get on board. If only you had the courage of your rhetoric, but you do not.

I made reference earlier to the Abbott government being the best friend the Australian workers ever had. At the moment we have upwards of 600 jobs a day being created. We got rid of the carbon tax, which in, say, the food-processing industry and the agricultural industries that I care about out in regional Victoria had a significant impact. The AMWU knows that. They know that at SPCA and they know that at Murray Goulburn, but they do not say it. So, if you really cared about the workers of Australia, you would get on and support this legislation.