Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

In relation to job security, it is a fundamental point that no government can guarantee a job, no trade union can guarantee a job—only economic prosperity can guarantee jobs. That economic prosperity comes about through hard reform—such as reforms of the taxation system, changes in government fiscal policies and the introduction of Work Choices. Work Choices has delivered higher wages. It has delivered more than 205,000 jobs, and it has delivered the lowest level of industrial disputation since 1913.

I met a guy who runs a sugar mill in south Cairns who said that he had put an employee who cuts the grass on an AWA because the fellow had said, ‘My wife works in hospitality two days a week and starts work at 6 am, so can I start work at 6 am?’ The boss said, ‘I would love to give you that flexibility.’ That worker who cuts the grass at the sugar mill said amen to AWAs. Then I went to Townsville, to the member for Herbert’s electorate. There he is in the chamber.

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