Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

This legislation yet again highlights the shambolic legislative agenda that this government is presiding over. It is little wonder that, if one cannot manage the Senate agenda, one cannot manage the country, and all the consequences of that are there for the Australian people to see.

This bill, which is allegedly non-controversial, was rushed into the House of Representatives at 4:30 pm on Wednesday, 31 October and then brought on for debate the very next day. The Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations might like to explain to the Senate how that fits into the new paradigm of parliamentary process and transparency that we were promised under this rainbow alliance of Greens, Labor and the country Independents. She might also like to explain why it was necessary to exempt this bill from the cut-off. She might also like to explain, in the context of this new paradigm, parliamentary processes being followed, parliamentary processes being honoured and individual senators being given the opportunity to genuinely examine legislation. She might like to explain why the Senate committee looking into this bill was only allowed one day of hearings—when I say one day I mean part of one day—with four witnesses.

What is the great rush? Why was the parliament denied the normal courtesies and considerations that should and would apply to any other piece of legislation?