Mark Coulton (Parkes, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

On Monday we saw a peaceful protest on the lawns of Parliament House. People came from all over Australia to display their anger and disgust at the way they have been treated by this government. How were these people treated—these good, hardworking people of Australia? They were ignored by the Prime Minister. They were ignored by the cabinet. They were insulted by the Leader of the House. They were insulted by the Minister for Trade.

Why are these people angry? I will tell you why. These people are angry because they have been deserted. Where are the people on this side of the House who were elected by funds raised by the unions—by the sweat of the workers, like the member for Maribyrnong on the AWU and the member for Corio for the Transport Workers Union? All that effort! These people put these members in there to look after the interests of the workers, and they have been sold out to the elite Greens agenda. They have been sold out to the people behind me—the Greens and the Independents—and deserted by this government.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

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