Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, I am. You only needed to watch the shadow minister Brendan O'Connor last night on Latelinesome described it as a train wreck. He has been caught out deliberately misrepresenting the facts during his interview. The first untruth was:

… the laws are excessive. Remember, it denies people's rights of representation. You could be compelled to give testimony without legal representation …

That is wrong. The ABCC bill includes an explicit right to legal representation for witnesses, and I refer those who are interested to section 61(4) of the bill. What Mr O'Connor has also forgotten is that the current regulator, which is Labor's regulator, has exactly the same compulsory information-gathering powers.

Second untruth: the powers are excessive. Well, if they are excessive, the powers of the ACCC and ASIC and other civil regulators are also excessive, and I do not see Labor trying to change them. (Time expired)