QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for the Environment and Water) (14:40): Thank you, Senator Payman. I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but, until that very moment, I was unaware that you had made that recommendation. But I'm glad that you did, and what I can tell you is that members of the Australian Labor Party—people who are currently, and who remain, members of the Australian Labor Party—are now delivering a fair work court, which is something that low-paid workers in our country need.

I am aware, having once held the portfolio of workplace relations, that there was very strong advocacy for a fair work court from trade unions in Australia and their members, and I'm very pleased that it is a Labor Party government and members of the Labor Party who now have the opportunity to deliver on that commitment. It is a really important point, and the reality is that there are many low-paid workers in particular who simply do not have the resources to be able to take their boss to court for things like wage theft.

That is the reason, as you know, Senator Payman, why we need to see a fair work court put in place in Australia. Now, it's no surprise that the kneejerk reaction, which we would all expect, from the Liberal Party was to come out and say that this was unnecessary. I note—and I was recently reminded by Senator McAllister—that, only today, we celebrated Threatened Species Day.

I was surprised not to see more Liberal Party senators there, because I would have thought they could identify with threatened species. By continuing their— The PRESIDENT: Minister Watt, resume your seat. Senator Scarr, on a point of order?

Senator Scarr: Direct relevance and unfunny joke. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Scarr. Minister Watt, please continue.

Senator WATT: Of course, when we're talking about threatened species, there is a particular form, that being critically endangered threatened species, like moderate Liberal senators. But I'm sure Senator Scarr supports our Saving Native Species program, which is investing in restoring the populations of critically endangered species. But, more seriously, Senator Payman, you do raise an important point.

I'm very pleased that the Labor government is responding, and we look forward to your support and perhaps that of those threatened species over on the other side to build this fair work court that we need. The PRESIDENT: Senator Payman, first supplementary?