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

Senator Hughes, you referred rather extensively to submissions that the Australian Workers Union made to the inquiry into this proposed piece of legislation. I'm not sure if you were in the Senate earlier when Senator McKenzie was singing the praises of Mr Walton, but I can only reiterate what a fine individual he is, leading that organisation, and what a terrific organisation they are.

Unlike the opposition, they've engaged in this whole process of working out how the fund will best work and the sorts of priority areas. The bill that you've got before you today reflects those wide-ranging consultation processes that took place. I answered a question from Senator David Pocock a moment ago in which I talked about the broad, wide-ranging consultation process that went on to create this bill. Please rest assured that all of the issues that people have raised have gone into consideration. What we now reflect on here is the totality of all of that discussion with the stakeholders.