Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Sorry, Chair. If South Australian workers have to rely on the work and the dedication and the support of Senator Farrell, God help them, because they've just been thrown under the bus—by Senator Farrell and by the Labor Party. Just like Senator Farrell didn't really stand up for workers in the retail industry and just like Senator Farrell continues to always look after his factional mates rather than the workers, he's now pretending that somehow, by voting in this chamber tonight with the Morrison government to introduce the TPP—to tick and flick it through—this is going to be in the interests of Australian workers. No-one's buying it.

This is a message to all workers across this country and all union members: don't listen to the guff coming out of the Labor Party on this issue. They know they're doing the wrong thing. That's why they didn't put up many speakers tonight. That's why we've got members of their own bench too embarrassed to be in here and to participate in this debate—because they know that the Labor Party have taken the wrong position. They're doing the work of big business, they're not doing the work of defending Australian workers. And they're certainly not doing things in the best interests of the Australian people. In this TPP deal, this dodgy deal, which has been negotiated by Senator Birmingham's colleague the former minister for trade, Mr Ciobo, and the Morrison government, Labor are selling out Australians, because they're undermining the very sovereignty of this parliament. They're undermining their own ability to regulate and implement laws in the best interests of the Australian people. They're doing the bidding of big business and big corporations.

Progress reported.