George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Nothing changes, does it? Here we have an attempt by the government to bring forward debate on very important legislation—very important to the employees in these industries whose rights are being trampled upon and whose wealth is being thieved by union officials—to progress a debate on how to protect the rights of those workers. And what does Senator Wong stand up and want to have a debate about? All the internal stuff—the Prime Minister's office's alleged dealings with the Leader of the Government in the Senate and media plans. There is something about the Australian Labor Party. They just cannot get beyond the fact that they are a bunch of wannabe West Wing characters. It is all inside the Beltway. It is all about the politics within the politics. It is never about the merits of the issue.

The other thing I thought very notable about Senator Wong's performance in the chamber a few moments ago is that she failed to advert to one very significant relevant fact: which union, infamous for its lawlessness, infamous for its violence, infamous for its corruption, felt most threatened by the Australian Building and Construction Commission and would be most threatened by its reintroduction? As we know, it is the CFMEU. And for which union was Senator Penny Wong an official before she came into this parliament? I am here to tell you that it was the CFMEU.