Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, I know you don't like this, Senator Patrick. The Centre Alliance voted to allow the Australian Building and Construction Commission and voted to allow the Registered Organisations Commission. How did that protect Australian workers? I ask you that, Senator Patrick. The Centre Alliance are fairweather friends of workers at best. Australian workers cannot trust them. When the Centre Alliance have the opportunity to stand up for workers' rights, they do exactly the opposite. I know you're agreeing with me, Senator Hanson-Young! Senator Patrick's pretence otherwise is tantamount to the committing of fraud against Australian workers. This is nothing more than an opportunistic stunt that will see Australia weakened and will threaten jobs. Labor will not support it.