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

Mr Speaker, my question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm his colleague the Liberal member for Gilmore was describing government policy when she said, 'It's a gift for our young people that their penalty rates have been cut'?

Ann Sudmalis (Gilmore, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's not true!

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Member for Gilmore.

Mrs Sudmalis interjecting—

The member for Gilmore will cease interjecting!

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Gilmore is a hard-working federal member who represents an electorate that includes many areas of high unemployment and many areas where there is youth unemployment. What she knows is that the decision of the Fair Work Commission will enable more small businesses to open on weekends, which will provide more job opportunities for young people.

None of us are going to take the Leader of the Opposition's version of what the honourable member has said as gospel. The honourable member, before she became a member of this House, was a schoolteacher for years. She knows—we have all been with her in her electorate—the situation of young people in the electorate of Gilmore very well, and it is very heartfelt. But the reality is that the basis of the Fair Work Commission's decision, a decision that was taken following a reference from the Leader of the Opposition, was that the reduction in penalty rates would create more opportunities for employment. That was Iain Ross's rationale for the decision. Of course the hypocrisy of the Labor Party in suggesting that penalty rates can never be varied flies in the face of one enterprise agreement after another, including many signed by the Leader of the Opposition. I have the Cleanevent agreement. That one says, 'This agreement is intended to be comprehensive and it excludes any protected conditions in an award, including penalty rates.' There you go; that is just one. There is a long list of them. Dozens and dozens of them.

Let me look at the comparison between big business and small business. This is a very important issue. We stand for small business; Labor invariably lines up with big business. How is it that a small takeaway business pays $29.16 on a Sunday for an employee under the award, whereas McDonald's down the street can pay $21.08 for the same worker doing the same work? Why? Because they have done a deal with the union. And what about—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will resume his seat.

Opposition members interjecting—

Government members interjecting—

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat for a second. Members on both sides will cease interjecting.

Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting—

Ms Husar interjecting —

The member for Gorton is warned, as is the member for Lindsay. I refer members to my remarks at the opening of parliament today. I refer them to my—

Ms Husar interjecting—

Member for Lindsay, that is your last interjection. I refer members to my remarks earlier today and my remarks yesterday. I will take action very swiftly.

Ms Burney interjecting—

Mr Stephen Jones interjecting—

The member for Whitlam and the member for Barton can just work out when they want me to give the Leader of the Opposition the call. The Leader of the Opposition on a point of order.

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

Yes, on relevance, Mr Speaker. This pay cut is not a gift, it is an insult to 700,000 working Australians!

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. And on that note I should also point out, having anticipated this, points of order are becoming statements. There is leniency given to the leader and the Prime Minister, and the Manager of Opposition Business and the Leader of the House. I am not going to allow points of order to be taken frivolously. The Prime Minister is completely in order and on the topic of the question. Points of order are not to be used for an additional statement to be added to a question.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. What about the insult signed here by 'Bill Shorten, National Secretary, Australian Workers' Union'—

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Sydney is warned!

Ms Chesters interjecting—

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

to an EBA that provides 'no additional penalty rates shall be applicable'.

Ms Chesters interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for the Bendigo will leave under 94(a).

The member for Bendigo then left the chamber .

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Cirque du Soleil; traded away. One of many where Labor leaders, labour union organisers, have traded away penalty rates for the workers they seek to represent. (Time expired)