Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Labor welcomes the Prime Minister's belated change of heart to reverse his decision on Australian Defence Force pay, but, just to be clear: will be Prime Minister make the new Defence pay deal retrospective from 3 November last year, when the previous deal expired?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question, and I am pleased at the measure of bipartisanship which seems to be creeping into this parliament today. But I regret that I will have to disappoint the Leader of the Opposition in this respect. The new arrangements will start from the next pay period after the Defence remuneration tribunal approves the government's position.