Maria Kovacic (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

At a time when productivity is at a 60-year low, which I referenced earlier, Australians deserve policies that lift output and not something that, as I noted before, is one size fits all and stifles flexibility. Since your government came into office, productivity in this country has fallen by more than five per cent. Australians are working harder, but they're taking home less, and it is tough. Whether you're an every day Australian or a small-business owner, things are very challenging. Many workers prefer the stability of a higher income and more consistent salary base, as I've articulated before. It helps them with budgeting, with growing their superannuation, with their borrowing capacity and with avoiding income volatility in Centrelink payments. These are all things that are very important to Australians. Again, I go to the question of a regulatory impact statement and the fact that the government hasn't conducted one. Why would you expect the parliament to be asked to legislate on this blind, without that impact statement?