Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Madam Deputy President. I think another point that needs to be noted in this debate is that this expert panel actually reports to the national round table. And who is on the national round table? Let's have a look at who is on the national round table, because I didn't hear anything about the national round table from any of the speakers opposite. I certainly didn't hear an acknowledgement that the expert panel actually reports to the national round table. They report to a round table that includes the ACTU; the expert panel actually reports to a round table that includes the ACTU. They're actually subject to oversight by the body that includes the ACTU. And those opposite have an issue!

From time to time, it is quite dismaying that those opposite make political issues out of things they shouldn't. This matter could have been handled quite differently, but they were chasing a headline. I do hope Senator Keneally's meeting with the minister is fruitful, but can I just say this: it would have been nice if that meeting had occurred without tipping the bucket on good Australians.