Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Does the Prime Minister recall the following exchange in Brisbane on 28 September 2004, at the launch of the coalition’s industrial relations policy:

Journalist: Do you think ... the Government would consider reducing the number of allowable matters?

Prime Minister: Well, we don’t ... they’ve worked pretty well ...

Why did the Prime Minister mislead the Australian people in the 2004 election campaign by saying that he would not put at risk public holidays, rest breaks, incentive based payments and loadings, allowances, penalty rates and shift and overtime loadings?

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Even with more than my generous amount of charity to the opposition, that question does not even internally compute. The quote that you gave that I allegedly used does not even establish your false proposition.

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Rankin has asked his question. Does the member for Rankin wish to raise a point of order?

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes. For the benefit of the Prime Minister, he was asked:

Do you think ... the Government would consider reducing—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Rankin will resume his seat. He has asked his question.