Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Industry) Share this | Hansard source

The motion is seconded. The government has made very clear that this is a very important bill. In fact, it says it's critical for the economy, for businesses and for workers across the land. I was very surprised this morning when I woke to read in the newspapers the fact that this bill was being stopped by Labor, that Labor was not going to support this legislation being debated and passed through this chamber and being considered by the Senate. Of course, I thought: that's pretty ridiculous, because the Senate doesn't sit until November, so why would a story be running on the front pages of newspapers, suggesting that Labor would stop the debate and the enactment of a bill?

What we've come to understand, since I woke to read that news in the papers, is that this is just spin. It's a stunt by those opposite to pretend they care about the issue. If they did care, if this were a matter of urgency, they would be agreeing to this motion. In fact, they would have introduced this bill into the House for debate today. They could have expedited it with the support of the opposition, and then we would have been able to allow the matter to proceed to the Senate.

Let's be very clear about why we understand this to be a stunt. It's because, as anyone who follows the business understands, the Senate does not convene until November. The Senate cannot consider this bill. Nonetheless, we are ready and waiting to debate the bill that the government has been running around the gallery and telling the media they want to debate today.

We understand. It's a bit like when we convened in March and the government had forgotten to have a wage subsidy policy. We asked the government, 'Do you want to have a wage subsidy policy for the economy?' To which the Prime Minister said, 'We don't need one.' They then had to reconvene the parliament and introduce JobKeeper.

Now we have a situation where JobKeeper is going to be reduced in January and end in March and this is supposed to be the bill that's going to provide support for businesses from this month but particularly after March next year when JobKeeper ends. We believe that JobKeeper should have come in earlier, should have lasted longer for businesses in trouble and should have covered workers who've been excluded. The government has not chosen to do that. They have chosen, instead, to propose this proposition.

We have some issues with the nature of this legislation. We want to debate it. We want to assist the government by providing support and advice as to how they could make this legislation better. We've very happy to have the debate today to discuss with the government in this chamber these important matters, but what we've realised is that we are all here in this chamber now but where is the government? Where is the Prime Minister? Where is the Treasurer? Where are those ministers who've been telling the media that this matter is a matter of urgency? If it is a matter of urgency then why are we not debating it? What is the minister at the table doing? Is he going to support this bill? Is he going to oppose this bill? Will we have a debate?

The reality is this has been a stunt from the beginning. Briefing out to the media that it was an urgent bill while knowing the Senate doesn't convene until November shows this government is all about spin and not about substance. It's all about trying to play games instead of focusing on the needs of workers and businesses in this country.

Frankly, we are here, waiting for the government to have a debate. We're waiting for the minister to commence the debate. We're happy to engage with them. Do you know what we're happy to do? We're happy to help them improve this legislation by providing advice as to how they could best support businesses and workers across the nation. There are some real issues around this bill we would like to discuss and debate today. We'd be more than ready to have that debate now. We're very happy, so, for those in the gallery who wrote those stories today or are on electronic media talking about the fact that Labor is holding up this legislation, be very clear now: the opposition is in the chamber waiting for the debate, and yet we don't have a minister to commence the debate on a bill that the government said must be debated today. That's the point.

For those watching, what we understand now is that this Prime Minister is all about spin—shallow—all about playing games and not about focusing on the aspirations and needs of workers and businesses in this land. Today he has been exposed. He wants to play games. He doesn't want to focus on the needs of the economy. He doesn't want to look after workers or business. He should be ashamed of himself.

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