Mr McMULLAN —My question is directed to the Minister for Industrial Relations. Is the minister aware of the briefings by the Treasurer's staff and close associates suggest ing that your Workplace Relations Act does not go far enough? When will the minister decide whether his industrial relations changes have been sufficient? Against what outcomes or benchmarks will you make that judgment? Will you recommit yourself to there being no second wave of amendments to the industrial relations legislation—in fact, to there being not even a second ripple?

Mr REITH —Most members on this side have had a good holiday. I must say that it is a pity that some on the other side did not take the opportunity to refresh their batteries and recharge them for the new session. Their tactics committee seems to have fallen into the predictable behaviour which we had from them last year. As I have said on many occasions when I have been asked this question whether or not there would be a second wave to our reforms, the answer is no, there is no second wave. I have always made that clear. I have made it clear in the context that this is an evolutionary process. What we saw last year was a very significant stride in the development of a much more efficient labour market—a labour market which will provide people with a lot of opportunities denied them when Labor was in office.

In terms of that evolution of the labour market reforms which we propose, this is certainly an important year. What we now face in the next 12 months and in the times ahead is the opportunity for a lot of employers and employees to take advantage of some of these changes so as to introduce work practices which can underpin higher and better productivity and, ultimately, higher wages. That, of course, narks and irritates the Labor Party. The truth of the matter is that in your 13 years the one thing you were not able to deliver was a labour market which provided people with both the opportunity of higher wage increases and the jobs to go with them.

To the extent that the question asks what the government's policy is, the answer is clear. Our policy has been enacted. We are in the business of implementing our policy. It also raises the question—

Mr Beazley —But Costello's view is totally different.

Mr REITH —Our policy is there for all to see. Our policy is an open book. What about Labor's policy? Where is the Labor Party's policy? There is a lot of confusion on their side about what the relationship with the ACTU will be between now and the next election. I do not think there is any doubt it will be a very close relationship. It will be a continuation of the relationship of the last 13 years, when basically the ACTU wrote your policy for you. So good at it were they that they have now got a few ex-ACTU presidents in here to make sure that you continue with ACTU policy as dictated to you from Swanston Street. The reality is that our policy is an open book. You have got a secret policy. Your problem is that the ACTU have yet to tell you exactly what it is. We look forward to seeing it this year.