House debates Personal Explanations

Tuesday, 13 October 2015 House of Representatives

Mr Tony Burke

Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance

3:13 pm

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

Does the member claimed to have been misrepresented?

Mr Tony Burke

Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance

I do.

Mr Tony Burke

Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance

In question time today the Prime Minister claimed I was personally associated with Woolworths employees receiving no weekend penalty rates. Woolworths employees receive a Sunday penalty rate.

Bill Shorten

Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

Does the Leader of the Opposition claim to have been misrepresented?

Bill Shorten

Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition

I have been misrepresented.

Bill Shorten

Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition

I have been misrepresented most grievously and unfairly. During question time the Prime Minister made assertions about negotiations I undertook representing cleaners while I was at the Australian Workers Union. These assertions are entirely incorrect. In my time we lifted the pay rates significantly and improved conditions for people.