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

I acknowledge the hardworking cleaners who are visiting parliament today to mark International Cleaners Day. Cleaners around Australia, including those who work in this building, will lose thousands of dollars because the Prime Minister is scrapping the Commonwealth Cleaning Services Guidelines. Prime Minister, why is it fair to cut the conditions of some of Australia's lowest-paid cleaners when, in fact, the government in its budget is giving millionaires $50,000 to have a baby?

Opposition members: Hear, hear!

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

I do acknowledge the work that the cleaners of our country do and I particularly acknowledge the work that the cleaners around this building do—

Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Acknowledgement won't feed them!

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

The member for Rankin.

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

including Lucia, Anna, Maria and the other hardworking cleaners that do such an extraordinary job in cleaning our own offices.

Mr Snowdon interjecting—

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

The member for Lingiari.

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

I want to make it absolutely crystal clear that no cleaner's pay is reduced. Every cleaner continues to be paid under the relevant industrial instrument and no cleaner in this country can be employed at other than the award or above. No-one can be employed at other than the award or above and the Leader of the Opposition should not go around this country scaring people. But that is the tragic pass to which members opposite have come: all they can do is scare. They have no solutions, just complaints, and the people of Australia are entitled to better from the Leader of the Opposition.