House debates Questions without Notice

Workplace Relations

Tuesday, 2 February 2021 House of Representatives

Richard Marles

Richard Marles Corio, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition

2:20 pm

My question is to the Prime Minister. Why are the Prime Minister's industrial relations changes being cited by retailers as a reason for workers on $57,000 losing every single penalty rate, overtime rate and shift allowance?

Christian Porter

Christian Porter Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General

Well, it's just not correct. Everyone in this House will remember the final sitting week of last year, when members opposite said that there would be pay cuts before Christmas. They said that there'd be pay cuts for Christmas. Did that happen? Did it happen? The difficulty with not telling the truth is that, when the things don't become true, people lose faith in what you're saying. It was desperate and untrue then, in 2020, and it's desperate and untrue now, in 2021.

Mr Tony Burke

Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Arts

I seek leave to table the requests from the retailers, which the Attorney-General just said don't exist.

Leave not granted.