Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

In question time yesterday, the Leader of the House made allegations that I did not put workers first. As I said yesterday, I always have. Specifically, he asserted that an agreement reached by the AWU with Visy Industries took away the maternity rights of workers who had worked for that business. This is completely false. So far, I understand the Leader of the House has been unable to provide any evidence to journalists to support this falsehood. This is because, in 1999, unpaid maternity leave for 52 weeks was included for workers under the agreement and, in 2002, unpaid maternity leave for 52 weeks was included for workers under the agreement. There was no reduction in maternity leave arrangements. The Leader of the House has been caught out. I expect now that the facts are clear that the minister will withdraw. He has misled the House. If he has any respect for this parliament, he will correct his false statement. The Leader of the House is engaging in smear.

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