Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

Again, you are conflating a bill that we are dealing with—

You ask me the questions and then you constantly interject to stop me answering the question. What's the point of asking me the questions if you want to give the answer yourselves? You're conflating two issues. Later on tonight you'll have all night, Senator McKenzie, to ask questions about the other piece of legislation. We are dealing with the National Reconstruction Fund bill at the moment. As I said earlier today, Minister Husic is a wonderful communicator and a wonderful consulter. I'd be amazed if he didn't consult with industry, all stakeholders and unions who might have an interest in this area, and business organisations. Earlier today I was reading out statements of support for our changes by the Business Council, AIG, ACCI. They're all on board. As I said earlier, it's a bit of a pity that the coalition can't get on board and start productively engaging with the government about the important revitalisation of the production industry. If I know Minister Husic, he will have widely consulted with all of the relevant stakeholders who would have an interest in this issue, and, unlike you, the opposition, all those organisations would have engaged, I'm sure, and given advice, offered suggestions—positive suggestions—that would have made this bill in its construction even better than it was when we produced it as a policy in the lead-up to the last election.