Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Emergency Management) (14:56): Thank you very much, Senator White—yet another Labor senator who has a proud record in standing up for the interests of working people, something that not one member over there facing us has ever done in their entire working life. Sadly, under the current workplace laws in Australia, that we inherited from the coalition— Senator Hughes: Businesses don't like it. The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator WATT: Sadly, under Australia's current workplace laws, designed by the coalition, too many labour hire workers haven't been treated and aren't treated with the respect that they deserve. The labour hire loophole that the Albanese government is seeking to close is happening. Where after an enterprise agreement is approved but the employer then engages labour hire to undermine the agreed minimum rates in the enterprise agreement, that is something we need to really recognise about this, because we've seen some of the hysterical media coverage of this, we've seen some of the advertising campaigns being run by business groups, which are fundamentally untrue and are based on fiction. The labour hire loophole that we are seeking to close applies where an employer enters an enterprise agreement with their workers and with a union and then decides to undercut that very enterprise agreement that they have signed by bringing in labour hire workers on lower rates and conditions. So, it applies where employers—and it's a small number, but it still matters—agree to one thing and then turn around and find a way to knowingly break their commitments under their enterprise agreement. What we've learned over the last few days is that all of those people sitting opposite want that to continue. We've learned that Senator Hughes wants that loophole to continue. We've learned that every single senator on the other side of the chamber wants that loophole to continue— Senator Hughes interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator WATT: and wants to support those employers who enter an enterprise agreement and then undercut it by bringing in labour hire loopholes. Is it any wonder that wages were stagnant for ten years under the coalition government when they support that kind of activity? We're going to clean it up. Senator Hughes interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Hughes. I have called you to order several times. Senator Hughes interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Don't answer back. Do not answer back. I am directing you to order. I'm directing you to be respectful of this chamber. Senator Hughes: I ask Minister Watt to withdraw the imputations he was making on those specifically named on this side of the chamber. The PRESIDENT: Senator Hughes, I don't believe there was an interjection. Senator Hughes interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Hughes, please resume your seat. You've made your point of order. You were disorderly through the entire time the minister was answering the question. That is— Senator Hughes interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Hughes! Senator Hughes! I'm reminding you that it is your responsibility to sit quietly in this chamber and listen to the minister. Senator Birmingham? Senator Birmingham: President, on your ruling: Minister Watt specifically, in his response on the record, identified and singled Senator Hughes out for commentary. You interpreted Senator Hughes's remarks as having been she was contesting there was some interjection from Minister Watt. It wasn't an interjection. If ministers want to be heard in silence, ministers also ought to show the respect of not provoking across the chamber, particularly in terms of ascribing motivations to other senators. The PRESIDENT: Senator Birmingham, I don't believe Minister Watt ascribed any behaviours to Senator Hughes. Senator Hughes interjecting— The PRESIDENT: I'm not taking a point of order, Senator Hughes. I will take advice from the Clerk. Senator Watt and Senator Hughes, what I'm going to do is review the tape. At this point, Senator Watt, if you did make any remarks that were unparliamentary, I invite you to withdraw them. Senator Watt: I'm happy to withdraw. I'd just say that Senator Hughes was interjecting constantly. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Hughes, please sit down. Senator Watt, when I ask senators in this place to withdraw, I ask them to withdraw without any other comment. Senator Watt: I withdraw. The PRESIDENT: Senator McAllister? Senator McAllister: I wish to raise a further point of order, President. In the exchange just now between yourself and Senator Hughes— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on my left! Senator McAllister. Senator McAllister: It relates to standing order 184. Standing order 184(1) requires: Order shall be maintained in the Senate by the President. Guides to Senate procedure No. 23 makes it clear that it is not an instruction to the President but an instruction to senators to give assistance in upholding normal procedure and behaviour in the Senate. Standing order 184(2) also indicates that a senator— An opposition senator: Are you telling the President the answer to the question? Senator McAllister: No, I am making a point of order. It indicates: … the Senate shall be silent, so that the President may be heard without interruption. During the course of this question time, a number of senators have not complied with that. I am bringing this to your attention, President, and more broadly to the attention of the chamber because I think 184 is an important rule that speaks to the good order of this chamber, and I think it is something that people may wish to think about in the way that they are interacting with the President. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator McAllister. You will note I have constantly reminded senators that it is disrespectful to make comments while ministers are on their feet, and interjections across the chamber are disorderly. I have also reminded senators that they are responsible for their behaviour, and all I can do as the President is call for order in this place. Senator Watt, you were answering a question. Senator Watt: I've finished that answer. The PRESIDENT: First supplementary, Senator White?