Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Indeed, Senator O'Sullivan—plenty of union representatives at the jobs summit. We know from all the evidence that Mr Burke and others sit down with the unions quite frequently. They have been there at the drafting table, no doubt, day in and day out, preparing this legislation.

But this is not a debate about the substance of the legislation; this is a debate about whether or not proper process is followed, and those opposite don't want to follow the established processes. This is a highly unusual process they're proposing to rush through the inquiry in an abnormally short period of time. The opposition's amendment simply ensures we have a normal period of time, and then the government can bring the legislation forward for normal debate in the early part of next year as would be customary, not seek to ram it through as they are proposing. I urge the crossbench in particular to support the opposition's amendment to ensure— (Time expired)