Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting on Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

As I said earlier, when those in opposition were in government for almost 12 years they did little, if anything, in this area of a national seamless economy and the simplification of regulation. They did little, if anything. They are a policy-free zone. There were a policy-free zone in this area in government. They are still at policy-free zone. The reforms that I have outlined, at least in part, today are complex. They are time consuming. They do involve bringing together states, territories, business and a range of representative organisations, trade unions and consumer organisations, but they are extremely valuable to the strengthening of Australia’s economy. They are all about lifting productivity, improving productivity, strengthening the Australian economy and delivering more jobs and higher wages. That is the critical importance of these reforms. Unfortunately, those opposite have no ideas and are taking an extremely negative, wrecking attitude, as they have in every other— (Time expired)