Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Road Safety) Share this | Hansard source

I've heard some contributions in this joint, and that was one of the worst, and I'll tell you why, Senator Stoker. Before you start slurring this side of the chamber, I'll throw a challenge out to you—through you, Madam Deputy President, if I may. How many enterprise agreements have I negotiated over the years? How many negotiations have I entered into not only as a delegate, as a long-distance owner-driver, but also as a union organiser during 28 years on the job? How many grown men have you had in your office, Senator Stoker, on a Friday night, bursting into tears when they have found their job go down the road? How dare you use that language? How dare you try to mislead those who may be listening or reading, and the Qantas workers, that this side of the chamber needs to apologise for standing up for working men and women?

That was one of the worst contributions, and I will debate you in every city, every town, every yard, every shop floor in this nation, and you will not win—

Senator Stoker interjecting—