Steve Fielding (Victoria, Family First Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is not often that the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Australian Council of Trade Unions come together to lobby senators. I think both bodies went around to all parties in this chamber in relation to this matter. That seemed to make a fair bit of sense to me. The last time that we had this debate we insisted on the change to have three members nominated by the Australian Council of Trade Unions and three members nominated by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It does make a lot of sense. It is not about favouring one or the other. It ensures that the two groups, which have worked for years on this issue with various governments of the day, are around the table. It would seem strange not to have them both around the table especially on matters concerning safe work. I will be interested to hear what the minister has to say about why they should not be included. He mentioned before that there will be other groups at the table. The ACCI and the ACTU are peak bodies and are widely acknowledged, and so I will be interested to hear what the minister has to say on the matter.