House debates

Tuesday, 13 June 2006

Questions without Notice

Workplace Relations

2:00 pm

Photo of Kim BeazleyKim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to his statement to Alan Jones on Radio 2GB on 4 August:

I mean some people have to work on public holidays ... it would be absurd and unfair and unreasonable if somebody has to work on a public holiday that that person isn’t compensated by being paid whatever it is, the double time or the time and a half  ... I just want to make the general comment that those arrangements are going to continue.

Prime Minister, given that under the Spotlight AWA Mrs Harris gets an extra 2c an hour for working on a public holiday but loses $21.40 an hour in penalty rates, isn’t this absurd, unfair and unreasonable?

Photo of John HowardJohn Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

Let me inform the Leader of the Opposition that Mrs Harris is not on that AWA.