Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) Share this | Hansard source

Wonderful to have you standing up and asking a question, then, Senator Ciccone! But you would then recall that the decision to actually cut penalty rates in this country was a decision of the Fair Work Commission. The Fair Work Commission, and in particular the president of the Fair Work Commission, was actually appointed by your former Leader of the Opposition Mr Bill Shorten. In fact, many Labor Party members have been part of unions that have done deals with big employers to cut the penalty rates of the relevant employees. So I completely reject the premise of the question. We on this side are focused on growing our economy, because when you grow the economy you create more jobs and you lower unemployment, and that is how wages will ultimately rise.