Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I actually have a question for the minister, which is what the committee stage is about. The committee stage is not about making 15-minute speeches after you have had your chance for 20 minutes in the second reading debate.

I have been listening to this debate quite intently. I have been trying to understand just what it is that the Greens are opposed to in this bill. I am sure Senator Rhiannon does not support the sort of thuggery that we have heard of from union officials or the sort of thuggery, against women in particular, that we have heard of in the royal commission and in various court proceedings around the country. I am sure Senator Rhiannon would not be involved in that. I know Senator Rhiannon was quite openly a member of the Communist Party in days gone by. I sort of understand her political philosophies from that. That is fine. It is a free country. You can support communism if you like. That is one of the glories of being a free country such as this. I am trying to understand why the Greens are opposed. I have listened intently to everything Senator Rhiannon has just spoken about—I was listening on the TV monitor upstairs before I came down—and I cannot find any reason why the Greens would be so opposed to this.

It suddenly occurs to me that perhaps the Greens are getting some political donations, some cash donations, from the CFMEU and others.