Senator Eric Abetz

“FAIRNESS FOR ALL – THROUGH COMMONSENSE AND FLEXIBLLITY”

It is a great honour to be invited to provide this year’s dinner address to the H.R. Nicholls Society.

As a Tasmanian I am delighted to be able to make a small contribution to also honour the name of H.R. Nicholls a former editor of the “Hobart Mercury” - my local paper.

Workplace Relations

Senator ABETZ (2.53 pm)Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Arbib.

I refer the minister to the forced outcome between Total Marine Services and the MUA in relation to semiskilled workers in the offshore oil and gas sector. What, if any, productivity offsets have been achieved as part of that agreement?

Theme: The Culture Wars and Political Correctness: how to win the hearts and minds of Australians

I am delighted to fill in for The Honorable Alexander Downer. He is always doing the people’s work, on this occasion at the United Nations (if that isn’t an oxymoron). We wish him well in his endeavors.

Alexander Downer, besides being a great Parliamentarian with a great sense of humor, is a true Liberal conservative with a hunger and passion to advocate the timeless truths of our beliefs.

On this day, as Australians face yet another interest rate rise courtesy of Labor’s reckless spending, we as a coalition will oppose this reckless, complex and confusing package of 11 Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme bills, which impose nothing but a giant tax on everything. Make no mistake—these bills will cost Australian jobs, will cost Australian wealth and will make no difference to the world’s environment.

It is with a true sense of pride and honour that I rise this afternoon to deliver my first speech. I say pride and honour because to be chosen by one's state and party to serve in this chamber is truly an honour. It is especially so when one has been chosen to represent the best and most beautiful of the states by the most dynamic political party this country has produced in the most important house of this parliament. It is a bit like winning the trifecta.