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

Senator Barnett is absolutely right. These are matters of great importance that the Labor Party seek to laugh at. But the reality is that these have been costing Australians extra in road construction and home construction, and impacting on our inflation rate. We are getting rid of these sorts of rorts, but of course the Labor Party oppose that. Mr Rudd has told the Australian people that he has a zero-tolerance policy in relation to illegal behaviour. No, he has not. If he did, he would be disendorsing Mr Harkins and he would be dealing with Joe McDonald. He has not done that. Do you know who the only person he has been dealing with is? Mr Harry Quick, the member for Franklin. Why is he being dealt with? Because Labor has a zero-tolerance policy on people telling the truth about the trade union influence in the Australian Labor Party.