Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I noted that Senator Fielding had the opportunity in speaking to his own amendment to outline, as he had previously described, the extra powers of the ACCC, and he chose not to. I am disappointed about that. You still have an opportunity. They cannot gag you for another 10 minutes. If you could outline where those extra powers for the ACCC are in the bill, that would be helpful to the chamber and to the broader community.

When I have to explain to the 10,000-plus members of the union or, as Senator Sterle said, 10,000 families of those independent contractors who want to be represented by the Transport Workers Union, I would like to be able to tell them how they are better off because of Senator Fielding—I really would. Senator Fielding, you have the opportunity again to stand up and explain your statement that there are more powers in this amendment or, if you have done a deal, that there are more powers coming in another bill to be introduced some time in the future. Just stand up and tell us. Senator Brandis is claiming this. Others are claiming this. Perhaps you can tell us what the situation is. I do not necessarily believe everything I hear from the other side, but I would believe it if you told me that there was a deal—exactly what it was, the form of the amendments and how important those amendments were. I again invite you in the small amount of remaining time to explain where in this bill there are extra powers or, if you have done a deal, that a future bill will deliver extra powers. Please tell us.