Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, does big business deserve a $50 billion handout? Do millionaires deserve a $16,000 tax cut? And how on earth, when wages growth is at record lows, does the Prime Minister believe nearly 700,000 Australians deserve a pay cut?

Mr Joyce interjecting—

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

The Deputy Prime Minister will cease interjecting.

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

Do Australian workers deserve to be told the truth by their unions? Do they deserve to be told that there was a $300,000 payment made by Thiess John Holland to the AWU in Victoria?

Ms Claydon interjecting—

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

The member for Newcastle is warned.

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

Did they deserve to be told that? We think they did but they did not and we are going to have to change the law to make sure they are. The honourable member likes to talk about how proud he is, as does the member for Isaacs, about the Leader of the Opposition's leadership of the Australian Workers Union—one secret payment after another, one long list of looking after big business. Did big business deserve to be given a special deal on an EBA in return for a large cash payment not disclosed? We do not think so. Clearly honourable members opposite did. They did. That is why they did not tell anyone about it.

Let's look at what the AWU said the money was for. The AWU claimed that $300,000 was for 'back strain research'.

Ms Butler interjecting—

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

The member for Griffith is warned.

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

Picking up that much money can put your back out! He turns his back on us. We do not need any research into—

Honourable members interjecting—

He turns away! If ever there was a shiver waiting for a spine to run up, it is his. He does not have the courage to face this parliament, to face the Australian people, any more than he had the courage to tell his members the truth. That is the question. He has all the opportunities of the House to tell us what that $300,000 was really for. Was it forum tickets, conference sponsorships or training? None of those benefits—if you can call them that—were ever provided, any more than the money paid by ACI was used for paid education leave.

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat.

Mr Porter interjecting—

The Minister for Social Services will cease interjecting. The member for Gorton, on a point of order. He will state the point of order.

Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Certainly, Mr Speaker. It is on relevance. I asked whether, in fact, the Prime Minister believes that the 700,000 Australians deserve a cut to their penalty rates. Prime Minister, you have not made any mention—

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

The member for Gorton will resume his seat. The member for Gorton certainly did ask that, but he asked other things as well, including what big business deserved or did not deserve. I am listening very carefully to the Prime Minister.

Mr Snowdon interjecting—

Mr Husic interjecting—

The member for Lingiari will leave under standing order 94(a). The member for Chifley is warned! If the member for Lingiari does not move immediately, I will take further action.

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

Do Australian workers deserve to be represented by unions that tell them the truth? We say they do. Those opposite say they do not. Just like they opposed childcare reforms and just like they are opposing one million families being better off, they are opposing workers being told the truth. Oh, yes. All of this hypocrisy, this covering up of one secret payment after another and one worker after another being sold down the river by money paid to unions—we are going to shine the light on that. We are going to ban those secret payments. You can vote against it if you wish.

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr Watts interjecting—

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. Members on my left will cease interjecting. The member for Gellibrand will leave under standing order 94(a).