Julian McGauran (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

They don’t care about blue collar workers. They have studiously avoided how this legislation will affect the jobs of their constituency—let alone all Australians, industry or the economy at large—and, in a micro sense, how it will affect the jobs of those in the Latrobe Valley who work in those power stations and who have given loyalty to the Labor Party over so many years.

I always recall the Prime Minister, when he first came into office, saying that Gough Whitlam was his political hero. This sent a chill down my spine. But he was not kidding; he was serious. The apprentice has now truly surpassed the master. This is more destructive and more incompetent than any Khemlani affair. It is a bill that has no good intentions other than to meet the politics of the day of the Prime Minister. You were all cowed by that. Will you commit to at least standing up for five minutes? We are willing to make way on the list for you, Senator Forshaw. You are an intelligent man. You read books, you know science very well and we hear you pontificating on so many other issues. Just stand up and tell us why you will not defend this legislation, particularly in New South Wales?