Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Assistant Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

the fact that many unions care only about unions and not about their membership. The evidence is emerging that some unions do not like the idea of people joining a union of their own free will.

I was interested to see a press release back in 2005 entitled Netball stars join AWU. In 2005, the good Leader of the Opposition was national secretary of the AWU. I really put the question: how many of those netballers actually knew they were members of the union? I will quote the Leader of the Opposition. He said:

The AWU's experience in representing other elite sportspeople such as horseracing jockeys will help us to better represent the interests of some of the most talented women in Australian sport.

But I regret to advise the House there seems to be a bit of horsey business happening here because despite the fact that there were dozens and dozens of Victorian jockeys allegedly as members of the AWU—

Mr Bowen interjecting—

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