Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Senator McCarthy. Many small businesses in regional Australia have been shocked at the impact of Labor's industrial relations agenda, especially measures like multi-employer bargaining and 'right to disconnect' laws, which were never revealed by the Labor Party prior to the election. At the National Press Club yesterday, Minister Watt was asked by David Crowe if Labor:

… will put your IR agenda to voters or will there be some surprises after the election?

In response, the minister said:

Well, I think governments always take items to an election and then deliver extra things after they are elected.

To reassure small businesses in regional Australia, will the minister rule out surprise and unwelcome Labor industrial relations reform after the election, or should they brace for more unwelcome surprises from Labor?