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

Senator Gallagher, I assume that is an intended reference to the decision of the Fair Work Commission which we discussed in this chamber yesterday. May I remind you that the Fair Work Commission, created by your party when in government to be an independent umpire, to be an independent settler of pay and conditions, ought to be supported by both sides of politics. You might have a different view as to whether it ought to have made a particular determination on a particular case, but you ought to respect its independence and—from the point of view if only of the rule of law—you ought to respect its determinations.

Now, Senator Gallagher, there is one force in this country that is selling Australian workers, particularly low-income Australian workers, down the river, and that is the trade union movement, which you represent in this chamber, and particularly Mr Bill Shorten, who time and again when he led the ACTU took bribes and side payments that had the effect of reducing workers compensation. (Time expired)