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

The opposition position is that we believe, not surprisingly on this occasion—although we did concede that on greenfields the government had superior amendments—that ours are superior. In those circumstances, we would be opposed to Family First’s amendments. If ours were to be defeated, we would be minded to support the government’s amendments. I say that with due respect to Family First. In reading through them, we think that the government’s amendments are better than those of Family First.

The government have moved a very long way in relation to the issue of access to the records of non-members. In this day and age the parliament is being broadcast in all sorts of manners and ways. I recall in my second reading contribution making a comment about the importance of providing protection for non-union members. I got this email from somebody attacking me most vociferously and employing the language of—