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

Very briefly I indicate that the coalition does not support Green amendments (1) to (3), but we will be supporting amendment (4). I indicate that, in relation to the transition bill, the minister in the other place, I think quite arrogantly in her speech, has already said that the National Employment Standards include important entitlements, and one of them is for parents of young or disabled children. The Senate has not decided upon that as yet, but I fully support that inclusion.

It was very kind of Senator Siewert to recognise my following of that issue in relation to parents with disabled children. I simply say that as a senator I am indebted to one of my first employees, who had siblings who were disabled. Her family have educated me about the issues of the disability sector and for the last 15 years I have been seeking to work with and for them.

I saw an opportunity to include such a clause in this legislation. Having raised it during the committee hearings, I had hoped the government would introduce amendments—because I thought they were non-controversial—only to find that the government did not. But the Greens did do it. I indicate the support of the coalition for those. Briefly, we oppose amendments (1) to (3) because we do not believe it should be mandatory, but we do believe that there should be the sorts of requests that this legislation suggests, so we will be supporting amendment (4).

Progress reported.