John Alexander (Bennelong, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

In an article printed in yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald, and repeated by government representatives, a claim was made that I called for the abolition of worker penalty rates and the reinstatement of Work Choices. The facts are that in a speech to a business forum in Bennelong last Friday I relayed stories I had received from local businesses that they do not operate on the weekend as it is no longer profitable, meaning workers who used to have weekend income are now forced to unemployment. I totally refute any claim that I called for the abolition of worker penalty rates or the reinstatement of Work Choices. To draw that allegation from my statements is as big a leap as that of Evel Knievel trying to cross the Grand Canyon.

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