Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The Liberal Party introduced a system of workplace relations that misrepresented Australian values, and when the public had their chance to vote it out they did. The Liberals have never got over that, because they really do believe in Work Choices. Let them stand over there and say to their heart’s content that Work Choices is dead, because they do not believe it. I heard Senator Abetz use that phrase. I am not convinced that he said it with any great meaning; the doubt is still there in my mind. Last year, the Leader of the Opposition declared that Work Choices was dead. He told the Australian, ‘Labor took a proposal to change unfair dismissal laws to the election and won, so we must respect that,’ but now he wants to make amendments to unfair dismissal laws. (Time expired)