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

I can understand the member for Melbourne's unhappiness that the plagiarism of the Greens policy by the Labor Party has not been acknowledged. It is yet another example of the green tail wagging the Labor dog.

I have addressed this issue in my previous answers, but I will take the opportunity to quote the observation of president Iain Ross. This is the former Australian Council of Trade Unions official, appointed to head Fair Work by the Labor Party, as were the other four members of the panel. This is what he said:

The evidence also supports the proposition that a lower Sunday penalty rate would increase service levels with a consequent increase in employment (in terms of hours worked by existing employees or the engagement of new employees).

In particular, a reduction in Sunday penalty rates is likely to lead to: more stores being open on Sundays, increased Sunday trading hours, a reduction in hours by some owner operators, an increase in overall hours worked in retail stores’.

That is the conclusion after, as I said earlier, several years, thousands of pages of evidence and hundreds of witnesses before the independent tribunal. They were tasked with this job by the former Labor government. They had all of the evidence from employers and employees. They considered it very carefully. Honourable members would understand, and I am sure the member for Melbourne would understand, that there was always a balance between the rate of penalty rates and its impact on employment. It is clearly a contentious matter. An independent body has determined it. It has considered it carefully. It has come to the conclusion.

The Labor Party previously said we must respect the independent umpire, and they suggested we would not. Well, we do and we have. It is the Labor Party that has changed. We respect the independent umpire's decision. They have made the decision, and honourable members opposite—and indeed the honourable member for Melbourne—should bear in mind what Jenny George said, 'Be careful what you wish for'. Be careful what you wish for when you decide that independent tribunals' judgements are only to be respected when they suit your own preconceived views.

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