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

Senator Marshall has given us, yet again, a great insight into how Labor does business. If you can make a special case to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, you will get preferred treatment. That is the way they do business. What we as a coalition are saying is that what we need is transparency and an opportunity for everybody to take their case to the independent body and for that case to be considered on its merits. What Senator Marshall basically said was, ‘If you can curry favour with the minister, if you can somehow make a special case then she might look after you.’ We know that is how Labor does business.

Indeed, it is no surprise that the minister at the table on this is Senator Arbib from the New South Wales right. That is New South Wales Labor from Sydney coming to Canberra and doing business in this way. That is the hallmark of Labor governments all around this country: curry special favour with the minister and you will get a special deal. That is what the Labor Party is all about, cutting the special deal and doing the deal.

What we are saying is—and I think Senator Fisher has put it exceptionally well—that we need a transparent process where you do not have to weave your way through the carpet loops by crawling into the minister’s office seeking special favours. You ought to be able to make an application, put your case and have it judged openly and transparently rather than simply by the minister’s goodwill. I think that is a very important differentiation between what Senator Marshall has put on behalf of the Australian Labor Party and what we are saying as a coalition.