John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I understand that the AWA example used in the media this morning, and I think also by Mr Combet and others, has a significant increase in the base rate of pay of 13 per cent with the potential to earn up to 10 per cent in performance bonus in 12 months time. The AWA does buy out several award conditions, but this has occurred since AWAs were introduced by the Commonwealth Bank in 1997. There is nothing new in this provision and I am advised that these particular AWAs would have been ones that could have been entered into under pre Work Choices law. In other words, the Leader of the Opposition has been caught out again. He joins the ranks of the now discredited member for Perth when it comes to matters relating to Work Choices. I know this is a prelude to the big rally—the rock concert—that is going to occur at the G tomorrow. Melbourne is a well-organised union city. It will get a crowd—we all understand that—but the right, sound-thinking people of Middle Australia know a fear campaign when they see it, and they are staring one in the face. Every day that goes by, the campaign of the Leader of the Opposition has less and less potency.

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