Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I note, while we're talking, that Kellogg's has Snap, Crackle and Pop from the Rice Bubbles. Over here, we've got 'shout, whinge and heckle' on the other side, so we've got our own version of that.

What we have going forward is a party that talks about the highlights. Who cannot stand up here and say that an employer that intentionally steals money should go and pay? That is right, but it doesn't take 700 pages of legislation to do that. What happens is that they get one or two good ideas, put them on maybe page 3 or 8, and then have 682 pages of their Labor mates' wish list. That's what we get here in this government. It is virtue signalling, or 'virtue washing'—what they're really doing over what they say they're doing. We cop it everywhere.

We asked this question on IR. We've come here, and it's being spoken about now. But what they're going to do is get their union buddies to come in and examine all the payrolls. What do I do if I'm working in a place, have a medical situation and use sick leave, and I don't want it disclosed? How do I keep that private? There's nothing here. They can walk in, demand to see the records and see my private records. Even though I'm not a member, they can see my personal information. There has to be a carve-out. It is overreach again.

When we talk about theft of wages being a potentially good thing—I come from the Hunter Valley. There is a mob up there called Glencore. I don't support coalmining in the Hunter to put money in Swiss bank accounts. I support giving money to the workers and the people that mine the coal. If it were just that, there would be merit in it, but again they go too far. We get back to what we really see time and time again with this government. They pick one or two things that will benefit and put 200 things that will hurt. They cry, 'We're getting wages moving again.' They have. This government holds the record for the greatest real wage loss, in December of last year. They get wages moving. They're getting them backwards. That's the record they hold. They don't want to tell the whole story.

We get back to why. It's about mates. It always comes down to mates. We do things that benefit the union industry super funds. We do things that benefit our union mates getting sign up. They want everyone to unionise so that they can have coverage over every business. They're already going to own every business with this super fund, so that will be a conflict that comes up sooner or later, when they're making laws that hurt their other friends.

The other question today was on Qatar, on flights and on the restriction of competition in this industry. I understand why they aren't worried about the lack of competition or flight costs, because you don't need more flights when you've got No. 34 Squadron on speed dial. 'I'll have a SPA jet to here and another SPA jet to there.' You don't worry about the price of flights when the taxpayer picks up the bill and a loadmaster picks up your golf clubs. This is what's going on, here. Don't worry about what's going on in the world; you've never had it better. You are earning more money than you ever have before, but, unfortunately, things cost way more than that. We are going to fix all these things so that you won't have your wages stolen in those small instances. That's a great thing, but everyone will have access to your private information. A union body like this is not like a work ombudsman. It is overreach.

I quote Henry Ford again: 'You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do.' Your reputation is built on what you do. This government has failed at that on just about everything from energy to IR to competition policy to the Voice. That's the other question that came up today. It is dividing the nation. Leadership in all of these areas is about bringing people together, but what we get with every piece of legislation is division, and it isn't good enough. So what do we do? We go around the world, and we work out what sorts of things we have to do for our mates. If I paint something on a sign for a pet project, is it worth cutting another airline out of Australia? It appears so. If I get $2 million for a campaign, is it worth allowing the destruction of environmental lands and farming lands? I think so. It's time to govern in the best interests of all of Australia, not those of our mates.

Question agreed to.