GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO RELEASE SECRET AMENDMENTS

Christian Porter’s refusal to release the amendments to his anti-worker union-bashing legislation can mean only one thing: he wants to keep the Australian people in the dark about what’s in them.

The Minister has arrogantly rejected Labor’s call for the changes to be made public so they can be properly scrutinised – even though the so-called Ensuring Integrity Bill could come to a vote as early as next week.

If this Bill is about “integrity” why is it shrouded in so much secrecy?

This is a Government obsessed with secrecy. A Government that has no respect for the public’s right to know.

The Australian people now have a right to ask: is Christian Porter telling the truth about his secret amendments? What is he hiding?

The Minister claims his secret amendments will fix this Bill.

But Labor knows that’s not possible and releasing the secret amendments would expose the truth: that this Bill is so fundamentally dangerous and extreme it simply cannot be salvaged.

The truth is these laws are not about reining in a few rogue union officials.

The truth is these laws will hurt ordinary workers by taking away their advocates: the organisations that fight for better wages, combat wage theft and exploitation, and keep workers safe.

TUESDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2019