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

Another very good question from Senator O'Sullivan. There is a real threat to the taxpayer achieving 30 per cent savings on construction projects—that is, the continued opposition of the Labor Party and the Greens to restoring the ABCC and the building code. Clearly the Labor Party and the Greens are more concerned about sectional interests than the national interest. When even a former ACTU president calls for its reintroduction, the Labor Party are blinded by their sectional interests and they cannot see the national interest which is so vital.

Labor and the Greens are more concerned with protecting the millions of dollars in funding they receive from construction unions like the AWU and the CFMEU rather than good, sound economic management. We will continue to press for the re-establishment of the ABCC in the interests of the taxpayer. (Time expired)

Senator Lines interjecting—

Well, you should ask Bill Shorten that.