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

Can I briefly, on this occasion, add my support. I believe this is a very important measure, especially for small businesses who do not have in-house lawyers as employees of their organisation. If they were to come before Fair Work Australia, it would be fair to say that they might well be up against wonderful trade union advocates such as Senator Marshall and others. As a result, to allow the small business to have a trained advocate is, I think, a very important measure, and we welcome this move by the government.