House debates Questions without Notice
Australian Workplace Agreements
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
2:00 pm
My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Minister, will the government release in Senate estimates hearings today the full statistical details of the protected award conditions removed from Australian workplace agreements?
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service
I thank the member for her question. I note that in 1996 the unemployment rate in her electorate was 9.7 per cent; today it is 5.6 per cent. That is good news. When it comes to individual agreements, we believe they are between the employer and the employee, and that is the way it should stay.