Federal Labor and the Greens say the Government has botched the handling of its centrepiece industrial relations bill, which will be introduced when Parliament returns today but is not guaranteed to pass.
Labor accuses Government of playing politics
The Coalition yesterday executed a swift about-face and agreed to show a representative from both parties a secret volume of the trade union royal commission report.
The Government is using the royal commission to push for the reinstatement of the construction industry watchdog, the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).
Workplace Relations Minister Michaelia Cash earlier on Monday said showing the parties the confidential volume was pointless because they already opposed the ABCC.
A spokesman for Labor's workplace relations, Brendan O'Connor, accused the Coalition of playing politics.
"The Government has got itself into a mess," he said.
"It's either confidential or it's not. The Liberals are clearly engaged in the most base of transactional politics."
Greens industrial relations spokesman Adam Bandt labelled the situation farcical.
"The bells haven't even rung to start the first day of Parliament and already the Government's just making decisions on the run," Mr Bandt said.
"This handling of this supposedly flagship bill of theirs is just descending into farce."
Strict rules would apply to those viewing the documents, including a ban discussing the findings with anyone else, including fellow parliamentarians, with fines or jail terms as potential penalties.
The documents must also be viewed in the presence of an officer from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and notes and photographs cannot be taken.
"Everyone who is being asked to vote on this legislation — which we're being told is necessary because of the material in this secret report — should be entitled to see the report," Mr Bandt said.
"There should be one class of senators and not two."
Labor accuses Government of playing politics
The Coalition yesterday executed a swift about-face and agreed to show a representative from both parties a secret volume of the trade union royal commission report.
The Government is using the royal commission to push for the reinstatement of the construction industry watchdog, the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).
Workplace Relations Minister Michaelia Cash earlier on Monday said showing the parties the confidential volume was pointless because they already opposed the ABCC.
A spokesman for Labor's workplace relations, Brendan O'Connor, accused the Coalition of playing politics.
"The Government has got itself into a mess," he said.
"It's either confidential or it's not. The Liberals are clearly engaged in the most base of transactional politics."
Greens industrial relations spokesman Adam Bandt labelled the situation farcical.
"The bells haven't even rung to start the first day of Parliament and already the Government's just making decisions on the run," Mr Bandt said.
"This handling of this supposedly flagship bill of theirs is just descending into farce."
Strict rules would apply to those viewing the documents, including a ban discussing the findings with anyone else, including fellow parliamentarians, with fines or jail terms as potential penalties.
The documents must also be viewed in the presence of an officer from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and notes and photographs cannot be taken.
"Everyone who is being asked to vote on this legislation — which we're being told is necessary because of the material in this secret report — should be entitled to see the report," Mr Bandt said.
"There should be one class of senators and not two."
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