Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

I can only reiterate your favourable comments about Mr Walton and his very fine organisation, the Australian Workers Union—one of the great trade unions in this country, dedicated to lifting the wages and conditions of its members in often very difficult industries.

We have taken into account all of the submissions from all of the relevant stakeholders and interested parties in the design of this legislation, and this legislation reflects the totality of all of those discussions. Hopefully, sometime tonight this bill will pass the Senate and, in the next day or two, will become law when it goes back to the House of Representatives. This bill reflects the totality of all of those discussions and negotiations, and when it goes through it will present the Australian people with a great opportunity to start rebuilding in this country.