Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

Imagine being lectured by Senator Birmingham and the coalition about productivity growth after a decade of the lowest ever productivity growth in our national history by a government that didn't understand the levers of productivity growth in the modern economy. It was the worst achievement ever in our history. Jobs were lost and investment went because of their mismanagement. Imagine taking a lecture from these jokers about productivity growth. That is the most dishonest, inappropriate, disconnected-from-reality kind of proposition that you could ever imagine.

I understand Senator Lambie's proposition. I understand why she would adopt that proposition. There are a series of items in this bill that she instinctively supports and some others she finds more difficulty with. She would prefer to be able to deal just with the ones that she instinctively supports and deal with the others later. I understand that proposition. I don't agree with it. I think it's not the way that legislation works in this place, and it certainly wasn't the way—