House debates Questions without Notice
Workplace Relations
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
3:44 pm
My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Government Members:
Government members interjecting—
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has the call.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
David Hawker Speaker
Order! Members are holding up their own question time. When a member gets the call to ask a question she—in this case—will be heard. I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Thank you, Mr Speaker—they don’t get out much! My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and it relates to his claims that the government’s so-called Work Choices laws have created jobs. Minister, why is it that 13,000 fewer jobs were created between March 2006 and January 2007, after Work Choices, than in the period between March 2004 and January 2005, which was before Work Choices?
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service
We do not apologise for introducing laws that have helped to create an environment where jobs can be created. I say this to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition: governments do not create jobs; business creates jobs.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Honourable Members:
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service
I say to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition: a strong economy is the best basis upon which you can create a job. All the regulation in the world under the Labor Party in the 1990s—
Brendan O'Connor Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations
Mr Brendan O’Connor interjecting
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service
could not prevent nearly one million Australians losing their jobs. All the laws that the Labor Party had in the 1990s could not protect one million workers who were left on the scrapheap. The only way you can create jobs is if you have got a customer coming in the door—
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Ms Gillard interjecting
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service
and under the coalition business is having strong growth and low inflation and we are helping to create an environment that creates jobs.
Cameron Thompson Blair, Liberal Party
3:46 pm
My question is also to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Would the minister inform the House how a flexible workplace relations system contributes to jobs growth and economic prosperity? Is the minister aware of any threats to this system and Australian jobs?
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I refer you to standing order 100(b).
David Hawker Speaker
The question is in order. It is not the same question.
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service
I note that the unemployment rate in the member for Blair’s electorate is now 5.2 per cent. In the last year of Labor it was 9.4 per cent. As I just said, sound economic management gives business the platform to be able to create jobs. That was confirmed by an overnight OECD report, and I urge the deputy leader to listen to this carefully. The OECD report backed our Work Choices legislation by saying that—
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Ms Gillard interjecting
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service
the unfair dismissal law was an impediment to job creation. The OECD said:
Strict employment protection legislation—
such as unfair dismissal laws—
is likely to increase the length of unemployment spells and thereby long-term unemployment. Likewise, the job prospects for those groups with relatively weak attachment to the labour market such as young workers and women can be compromised.
Basically, they are saying that the Labor Party’s job-destroying, unfair dismissal laws actually hurt those most vulnerable—
Arch Bevis Brisbane, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Homeland Security
They were Peter Reith’s.
David Hawker Speaker
Order! I have called the member for Brisbane to order several times. I have given him a warning. He continues to interject. He will remove himself under standing order 94(a).
Arch Bevis Brisbane, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Homeland Security
Mr Bevis interjecting
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
3:49 pm
I move:
That the member for Brisbane be suspended from the service of the House.
Question put.
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The honourable member for Brisbane is suspended from the service of the House for 24 hours under standing order 94(b).
The member for Brisbane then left the chamber.
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.