Stephen Smith (Perth, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. I refer to Qantas’s $670 million yearly profit, announced today, and CEO Mr Geoff Dixon’s confirmation in announcing the profit that both Qantas and Jetstar will utilise the government’s AWAs. I also refer to the Prime Minister’s statement in the House earlier this week in regard to Jetstar’s AWAs:

… this is not the result of Work Choices; it is the result of the normal operations of the labour market ...

Isn’t it the case that Mr Dixon made clear in October and November last year that Qantas welcomed the government’s legislation and would use AWAs? Minister, isn’t Qantas doing exactly what the government wants it to do under its legislation—embarking on a wages race to the bottom, from Jetstar to Qantas?

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