Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

Can I thank Senator Lightfoot for his question and indicate to him that not only have I seen reports; I have actually seen the 75-page document, which I have with me. I can inform the Senate that this is the so-called political strategy manual designed by the ACTU, and its content, as Senator Lightfoot pointed out, is very disturbing indeed. This is the way it works—and I encourage those opposite to hear this out in silence because if they do they will be condemning it. This is the way it works. Firstly, the ACTU engages an outside database company, Magenta Linus, to supply them with union members’ enrolment status, address and even mobile phone number. Remember, we are talking here about all union members in marginal seats, many of whom would have no real allegiance to the union—people such as 17-year-olds who unwittingly joined when they started part-time work, let’s say, at their local supermarket. The union then passes information to a call centre which telephones the member and solicits even more information, such as their political allegiance, their voting intention at the coming election and their attitude to our IR laws.