Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

You are a lawyer as well! Let us just be clear about this: the criticism of Work Choices has absolutely nothing to do with a so-called compassion for the workers but more to do with a desire to re-establish union power over the industrial relations system of this country.

I do not believe that Work Choices played a major role in the election result, despite the obvious scare campaign that was run by the New South Wales Labor Party and their union backers. The Australian Labor Party would like to roll back this highly successful legislation. As I have said, this is a dangerous prospect. Of course, the reason for this roll-back is that the ALP is hopelessly beholden to the trade union movement. There is little wonder at that since the trade union movement has donated over $47 million to the ALP since 1995. As I said, at a time when union membership comprises barely 17 per cent of the private sector workforce, unions now have more control over the Labor Party than ever before. Of the 86 ALP caucus members, 41 are former union officials. Of the 32 members of the ALP frontbench, 17 are former union officials. Of the 28 ALP senators in this place, 18 are former union officials. The record speaks for itself. Thankfully, the diversity of the backgrounds on this side of the Senate ensures that we bring a much broader experience to the debate.