In his valedictory speech to parliament Kim Beazley mounted a spirited defence of the role of the union movement.
"The union movement's now being abused up hill and down dale by employers in advertising that you see on your television every night and it's being abused up hill and down dale by our political opponents in this place," he said.
"But understand this: when you wish to assault democracy, first you attack the unions. When you wish to restore democracy, first you start with the unions.
"It is no accident that the opposition in Zimbabwe now is led by the unions.
"When you undermine unions, you undermine democracy in the workplace, then you will undermine democracy in the nation overall.
"First you destroy the unions, then you destroy democracy."
Kim Beazley's Labor colleagues, some of whom were moved to tears by the speech, gave him a standing ovation.
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson and former Liberal Party director Andrew Robb watched the speech from the government benches, which were otherwise almost deserted.
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