Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

Yes. Then we have Mr Dastyari. Senator Arbib has referred us to the New South Wales Right. Mr Dastyari, tell us the deal that was brokered. Tell us how many people in head office actually know. There is not only Mr Dastyari, who runs the show there, there are also the financial controllers and the assistant secretaries—somebody must have authorised this money. Come clean and tell us how much it was and who did the deal.

In my remaining time, I will reflect on one other aspect of the maiden speech of the member of the Dobell. He was pontificating. He was having a go at the Howard government, talking about messages. He was having a go at the Howard government because of its workplace policies. He said:

I started by saying that the language we use as politicians should be simple, straightforward and honest, easy to understand—childlike, one might say. That had me thinking about messages we teach our children as to what is good and bad, from an early age. A lot of these messages are based on our religious beliefs.

He told us that we should:

Do unto others as you would have them do to you.

He also told us:

If you have done the wrong thing, say you are sorry.

Well! Then he went on to talk about aged-care staff and healthcare workers, and how they are downtrodden. Mr Thomson, how do you think they feel about their hard earned union fees being used in this manner? Their fees have been trawled through and totally misappropriated. They have been used in brothels, been used for trips, been used for all sorts of things. How do you think those workers feel, today? You keep talking about standing up for the workers, but this is an absolutely appalling example. The Prime Minister needs to answer some serious questions. (Time expired)

Question agreed to.