Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

There are 400,000 good reasons—thank you, Senator Ronaldson—why this legislation is good. I come from North and Central Queensland, in the Bowen Basin. You guys should go to some of those places; you should go to the mines and talk to the miners—get out of the cities and talk to the miners. I will give you a map and show you where they are. You should talk to the miners, because they love Work Choices. They hated being on an award that gave them $60,000 a year. They are now dragging in $150,000 or $200,000 a year. They love Work Choices because they have the flexibility to negotiate with their employer to get a good deal for themselves. That contributes to a very strong economy and makes everyone’s lifestyle, our way of living, so much better. It is important that we understand the facts of the Work Choices legislation and not fall for the sort of misinformation that the unions give us through the mouths of Labor senators opposite. I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.