House debates Questions without Notice
Workplace Relations
Stephen Smith Perth, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations
2:40 pm
Regrettably, my question is not to the chicken; it is to the Prime Minister.
Stephen Smith Perth, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations
I am, Mr Speaker. I again refer the Prime Minister to the Connor Hunter website, which also states:
Now a workplace agreement will result in a reduction in the overall terms and conditions of employment of the employee.
Isn’t this confirmed by the government’s own statistics, provided at Senate estimates on 29 May, which showed that under the Prime Minister’s industrial relations legislation, from March until Senate estimates in May, 52 per cent of AWAs reduced or removed shiftwork loadings, 63 per cent of AWAs reduced or removed penalty rates and 64 per cent of AWAs reduced or removed leave loadings?
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
Mr Speaker, through you, I would remind the member for Perth that it is now 2 November, the world has not come to an end and the sky has not fallen in.
Stephen Smith Perth, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations
Mr Stephen Smith interjecting
Stephen Smith Perth, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations
Mr Stephen Smith interjecting
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
We have continued to employ Australians at a record high. We have seen 205,000 more jobs created in Australia.
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Childcare
Ms Plibersek interjecting
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
We have seen, to your great sorrow and sadness, the real wages of Australians continuing to rise. We have seen every slur against the Work Choices legislation—all wrong.
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Childcare
Ms Plibersek interjecting
David Hawker Speaker
The member for Sydney is warned, and so is the member for Shortland!
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
It is very interesting that on the last day of this week we hear from the member for Perth, having followed weeks and weeks and weeks of not having heard from him, because every time he gets up in this place he gets his facts wrong. He has established an absolute world record for a frontbencher in getting his facts wrong. Every claim he has made has been demonstrated to be wrong. Every specific example he has half quoted or misrepresented; explanatory clauses are left out of the questions he puts. The member for Perth, on industrial relations, has no credibility—no wonder the unions around the country are rumbling for his removal.
