George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Sorry, Senator Urquhart, I am just not going to indulge your fancy. The Prime Minister has said no such thing, and your assertion that he has done so is not the truth. What the Prime Minister has said and what the government says is that we should respect the decision of an independent umpire in determining wages and conditions. You know, Senator Urquhart, because you were a backbench member of the government that created the Fair Work Commission, that it was established for the very purpose of being an independent umpire. That is why it exists. That is why you set it up. If you are going to respect the decisions of an independent umpire then you have to—