Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is again addressed to the Prime Minister: Why did the Prime Minister prevent any member of the opposition or crossbench from speaking on his flawed union-bashing bill when he rammed it through this House today? Why does this Prime Minister not respect the democratic process?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This bill, this matter, this issue of dealing with thuggish, militant unionism is something the Australian people wanted us to address. And I will stand up for them in this place and ensure that we do not back down from the intimidation that has come in seeking to thwart our efforts to ensure that we can bring safety to workplaces by ensuring the thugs get given the punt. That's what we're seeking to do. We stand up for what we believe in.

This matter has been through this place before. It's been in the Senate before. It went through some 15 or 16 hours of debate in the other place. Everybody's position on this is known. We are not going to play the games of the Labor Party, seeking to delay getting union thugs off workplace sites, where they abuse women, where they abuse other fellow Australians. We will not put up with that. The Australian people will not put up with that. We will ensure there is integrity in the workplace to ensure that Australians are kept safe.

We know of cases in Queensland where even union officials would not go on to the sites of other union officials because they would be intimidated by other union officials. The Leader of the Opposition's and the Labor Party's eyes are completely closed to the thuggishness that they support.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition on a point of order?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes. The question went directly to the antidemocratic and authoritarian behaviour of this Prime Minister in not allowing any debate whatsoever—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition can resume his seat. The question asked the Prime Minister those questions, and his answer is being relevant to the questions.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

From the very first day I was sworn in as a minister to this day I have always sought to protect Australia from thugs. One of my first actions as the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection was to ensure that Rebels bikie gang leader Alex Vella never returned to Australia. I will stand up against thugs; the Labor Party stands up for thugs.

Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting—

Mr Perrett interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Gorton is now warned, as is the member for Moreton.