Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Despite no mention of it in Toyota's statement, the Minister for Employment this morning said, 'The high cost of manufacturing, with great respect, must in itself include the cost of labour.' Does the Prime Minister believe that Toyota workers are paid too much, and is that why Toyota is closing its doors?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not begrudge any Australian worker his or her wage. I want the Australian worker to be better paid all the time—

Ms Rishworth interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Kingston will desist!

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

all the time. I want the Australian workers' pay to go up and up and up, but I do make this very important point: if the workers of Australia are to be the best paid workers in the world, we have to be the most productive workers in the world as well—and that's the problem. I very much regret the fact that when Toyota just a few months ago sought to talk to their workers about improving productivity in their factory they were denied that opportunity because of the operation of our system. I do not the blame the workers for that. But, you know, there is a certain former union official sitting opposite—there are quite a few former union officials sitting opposite—

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs will desist.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and I have to ask: why weren't the workers of Toyota able to sit down with the managers of Toyota to try to organise to save their jobs and to save their business? Because the Leader of the Opposition's union mates, using the Leader of the Opposition's workplace laws, frustrated that effort, and I deeply regret that.