House debates Questions without Notice
Workplace Relations
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
3:08 pm
My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Will the minister confirm that the ABS has today released statistics that show that women on AWAs who work full time earn $2.30 less per hour than those on collective agreements, women on AWAs who work part time earn $3.70 less per hour and women on AWAs who work as casuals earn $4.70 less per hour?
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
This is ABS data. Which statistics is the minister relying on when he asserts that AWAs are good for women?
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service
The earnings of employees on AWAs increased to $26.40 per hour and $949 per week in May 2006. These figures are based on only one month of Work Choices. In total weekly earning terms, non-managerial employees on AWAs earn nine per cent more than employees on registered collective agreements and 94 per cent more than employees on awards. I want to say this about the interesting change over the last 12 months: of the 241,000 jobs created since Work Choices was introduced, more than 109,000 have gone to women.
Nicola Roxon Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health
Ms Roxon interjecting
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
What’s their pay rates?
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has asked her question.
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service
I make the further point that, over the last few months, as we have seen long-term unemployment reach the lowest level in two decades, we have seen more women come into the workplace—
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Where are the statistics?
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is warned!
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service
than at any other time. At the same time those people, who are in many cases women coming into the workforce, have been on the single-parent pension. We have made more than one million phone calls to people on the single-parent pension. There have been 100,000 people—essentially women—on parental pension referred to the Job Network. Those people have been out of the workforce for very long periods of time. They have taken up jobs in the retail and hospitality industries. Our view on this side of the House—
Nicola Roxon Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health
Ms Roxon interjecting
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service
is that it is always better to get a job than to remain on welfare.