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

The good senator is interjecting without having any idea what I am about to say and comment on. Senator Campbell was banging on about if, in his wishful thinking, he were a 16-year-old again and what would happen in those circumstances as a 16-year-old. What I am pointing out is that, for the first time ever, in our recent legislation, which has now been in force for about 15 months or so, those people who are under the age of 18 are required to have their agreements co-signed by a legal guardian or a parent. For the first time ever. And of course that was one of the extra protections that we as a government decided to put in to protect the young of this country. The trade union movement did not argue for that, might I add.