Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak about the Fair Work Amendment (Textile, Clothing and Footwear Industry) Bill 2011. When I came to this place just over six years ago, one of the first issues I confronted as a senator was to visit some sweatshops in South Australia, talking to very vulnerable women—mostly women—who have been exploited for too many years in this country.

We have sat here and listened to Senator Fisher's contribution. We in this chamber remember, and I am sure many others listening to this broadcast remember, that Senator Fisher was a former adviser to Peter Reith. We know what happened on the waterfront. We know the history of those people on the other side of the chamber when it comes to Work Choices. We know what you are all about, and that is bringing back Work Choices mark 2. That is your agenda. Today in this chamber, we are talking to a bill that illustrates again the complete lack of regard for Australian workers by those opposite.