Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

The Productivity Commission review of the Fair Work laws is something that we promised the Australian people. We believed that there had to be a proper, full review of the framework of our industrial relations system. The good news is that the Productivity Commission was of the view that it needed repair, not replacement, and that is of course the policy that we adopted going into the election. We also adopted the longstanding policy in this country that all matters in relation to wage setting should be determined by the independent umpire, namely, the Fair Work Commission. Interestingly enough, that is exactly what the Productivity Commission, in its draft recommendation—and I accept that it is only a draft at this stage—said that this matter should be put before the Fair Work Commission for their consideration.

Having said that, it is only a draft recommendation and undoubtedly the unions that helped to get you, Senator, into this place, will have views to put to the Productivity Commission. Then, after we have final recommendations from the Productivity Commission, we will determine that which we believe should be taken to the Australian people for a mandate in 2016. When the Productivity Commission—and, might I add, the three commissioners that were appointed—