House debates Questions without Notice
Workplace Relations
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
2:45 pm
My question is again to the Prime Minister. I refer again to his government’s request for tender for economic modelling. Prime Minister, doesn’t this document reveal your government’s plan to force Work Choices on 100 per cent of working Australians—up from 85 per cent—meaning that 1.5 million employees such as nurses and firefighters will be at risk under your extreme industrial relations laws?
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
Let me take the deputy leader very quietly through this. I ask her to listen very quietly. Let me just point out to her that it does not prove anything of the kind. What our policy demonstrates is that people can have choice. The difference between us and the Labor Party is that, if the Labor Party wins the election, collective agreements will rule the day. They will completely remove the option of AWAs. What we are witnessing—
Jenny Macklin Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Community Services
Ms Macklin interjecting
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
is the member for Lalor, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, grabbing hold of the unexpected opportunity of speaking for the Labor Party—and she has taken every question and directed all of them to me. What she is really doing is saying to the world—
Jenny Macklin Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Community Services
Ms Macklin interjecting
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
that, as far as she is concerned, there will be absolutely no backsliding on AWAs. Gary Gray—you all know who Gary Gray is; certainly the former Prime Minister does—may be going around the mining companies in Western Australia—
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order with regard to standing order 104. It is a very specific question.
David Hawker Speaker
The member will resume his seat. The Prime Minister was asked a fairly lengthy question. He is certainly in order. I call the Prime Minister.
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
People like Gary Gray and others may be going around saying, ‘There is a way through on this, comrade,’ but while the leader is away in Brisbane the acting leader is taking every opportunity to nail her colours to the anti-AWA mast. She speaks for the Australian Labor Party, she speaks for Greg Combet and she speaks for Sharan Burrow. Every question she asks is a further illustration of her visceral hatred of AWAs. I would invite the Acting Leader of the Opposition to explain to those hundreds of thousands of Australians who are far better off under AWAs—
Bob McMullan Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. This question specifically referred to the extension of Work Choices—
Bob McMullan Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations
I am, Mr Speaker; it relates to relevance. This question related to the extension of Work Choices to 100 per cent of employees.
David Hawker Speaker
The member for Fraser will resume his seat. The Prime Minister was asked a question on AWAs. The Prime Minister is answering the question, and the Prime Minister is certainly in order.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
Mr Speaker, when it comes to being out of order, first of all, we have these constant, confected points of order and the Acting Leader of the Opposition, who is constantly interjecting and holding up a document and pointing to it in ways that—
David Hawker Speaker
The Leader of the House will resume his seat. I have already ruled on that point of order. The Prime Minister is in order.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
Mr Speaker, I rise on a further point of order. Is it in order for the Acting Leader of the Opposition to constantly hold up a document and point to it? Perhaps she should table it for us.
David Hawker Speaker
The Leader of the House would be well aware that it is not against standing orders to display documents. However, if it is done excessively, as he would be aware, I have taken action. The Prime Minister is in order. I call the Prime Minister.
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I resume the invitation I extended to the Acting Leader of the Opposition. Instead of reinforcing her visceral dislike of AWAs, perhaps she ought to go to Western Australia and to other parts of this country and explain to people who are thousands of dollars a year better off under AWAs why she wants to destroy their living standards. Perhaps she could explain to the many tens of thousands—
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order on relevance. It was about nurses and firefighters.
David Hawker Speaker
The member will resume his seat. That is not a point of order. The Prime Minister is in order and the Prime Minister will be given a chance to answer the question. I call the Prime Minister.
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I invite the Acting Leader of the Opposition and I also invite the shadow Treasurer to explain to people who are on AWAs why their freedom of choice should be destroyed under a Labor government.