Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

As we have heard today, in 10 days time, the landscape for Australian workers will change. In the seat of McEwen, some 8,000 people are about to get their wages cut because of the decision of those opposite. Nearly $19 million is going to be taken out of the working-class economy, as people have their wages cut, just because the ideologues over there do not believe in penalty rates. That is an average of $2½ thousand dollars per year per person. On top of that, pensioners are going to lose some $370 a year. Why? Because of those opposite, who like to come into this place, like the Prime Minister, draped in the Australian flag, and pontificate about Australian values.

Well, I will tell you what: Australian values are not about offshoring your millions of dollars to avoid paying tax in this country. Aussie values are not: ripping off low-paid workers and pensioners so you can give yourself and your millionaire mates a $16,000 tax cut. This government needs to wake up to itself, reverse these pay cuts for working people and reverse the decision to give millionaires $16,000 tax cuts. Aussie values are: standing up for Australian workers, not standing on them!

See this speech in context