Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Again, we will not take members opposite as reliable stenographers for the statements from the government members. But the reality is that the honourable member opposite would well know that those five Labor appointees on the Fair Work Commission, every single one, were appointed by a Labor government—four by his leader, the member for Maribyrnong, the Leader of the Opposition. They were all appointed by the Labor Party, and the president, Mr Ross, spent his life working for the ACTU. The reference was delivered to them by the Labor Party. He heard thousands of pages of evidence, hundreds of witnesses and came to the conclusion that a reduction in Sunday penalty rates of the levels proposed would increase employment. That was the considered decision of the Fair Work Commission, and we accept that decision. We support the decision of the independent umpire because it is their decision.

See this speech in context