Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question, and I note that the honourable member refers to the recent decision of the Fair Work Commission relating to Sunday and public holiday penalty rates in retail, hospitality and fast food. And the justification the Fair Work Commission gave—this is the Fair Work Commission, which the honourable member has again and again and again pledged to support, just like his leader; he has extolled the virtues of the independent umpire, but not now—was the increase in employment: more jobs, more businesses opening, page after page of examples of small businesses that said that the high rate of Sunday penalty rates and public holiday rates at the moment prevented them from opening. There are pages and pages of them. It was a decision based on evidence. The Fair Work Commission is backing small business, and so are we. Now, on the Reserve Bank, I will ask the Treasurer to add some remarks.

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