Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

But you did say, ‘You either support it, or you don’t.’ It is that sort of arrogance that is making this legislation stick at the moment. The government is not willing to consider that anybody else—be it the ACTU, ACCI, Senator Xenophon, Family First, the Greens, the coalition—might have any ideas whatsoever to contribute to this to make the occupational health and safety regime even better. It is that sort of non-consultative and very arrogant approach that is causing the deadlock we are currently in.

Minister, I want a specific answer—and I want clarification on this, and you will not fob us off—as to whether Deputy Prime Minister Gillard personally spoke with state ministerial colleagues on this issue before or on 20 October. If she did not and it was simply departmental consultation, were all state and territory departments actually consulted?