Senator BIRMINGHAM (South Australia—Minister for Finance, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:16): It's hard sometimes to follow the strategy of those opposite. Indeed, the Australian people have found it hard in recent elections to follow the strategy of those opposite. The first series of questions from those opposite I was asked today seemed to suggest that the reforms are too harsh, and now Senator Gallacher has based all his questions on whether we've backed down and the reforms aren't harsh enough or something. These reforms are sensible, thoughtful reforms based on extensive, lengthy consultation. The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Wong, on a point of order? Senator Wong: On direct relevance. The question is whether or not there has been a backdown. We invite him to tell his coalition colleagues if there has been a retreat or not. The PRESIDENT: That is not a point of order, Senator Wong. Senator BIRMINGHAM: I don't know whether there is a split over there, whether Senator Gallacher is actually arguing there are further reforms that ought to be in this package or not. But I can assure him and every other senator and every Australian that these reforms are the result of hours upon hours of work and consultation between the government, the union movement and businesses in seeking to find sensible approaches to create a more secure employment environment. (Time expired)