Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

I don't know where to start with Senator Hanson's contribution there. I could probably go for a while with a lecture on how democracy works. I don't think any government in Australia has got 50.1 per cent of the vote for a fair while, Senator Hanson.

When I see this bill—I know you said you see unions—I see workers throughout it, because that is who we want to support. More importantly, I see a bill that is designed to ensure people do get that wage rise, and that is what we are absolutely dedicated to doing. That is the focus of what we want to achieve through this. Again, I mentioned earlier that everyone tries to claim they're for wage rises, but then they keep coming up with a thousand excuses why they don't support them. We are unashamedly in favour of them. I think one of the clearest memories for the Australian people during the election campaign was the now Prime Minister holding up a dollar, and that resonated with the Australian people. I have no doubt that there is support across the community. There is obviously the support in this chamber, and that's the way our democracy works, Senator Hanson.