Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the Senate. If this is a protection racket for the ACTU it is the most feeble thing I have ever seen. I am actually somewhat speechless that the Labor Party have thrown their trade union colleagues under a bus. We would not have an eight-hour working day in this country without civil disobedience and without industrial action that was considered highly illegal under the laws of the day. Where are you people?

The only thing more surprising has been the hysterical reaction of the Tories. Why not leave your law practice and get yourself elected and change the law? Your female colleagues would not even be allowed in this building or in this chamber or even have the vote without civil disobedience and without people who were willing to break the law at the time. We believe that this is a fundamental precept of democracy and it is an incredible display from both of the major parties this afternoon that the debate has come to this. (Time expired)