Sarah Henderson (Corangamite, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to commend the member for Fisher for putting this motion for debate before the Federation Chamber. I would like to start my contribution by reflecting on the comments that the member for Herbert made. She said, 'The union battle rages on to keep penalty rates in this country,' or words to that effect. Well, what a shame that the union battle and Labor's battle to keep penalty rates doesn't extend to its own sleazy deals. What we as a coalition government have exposed across this country are hundreds of thousands of Australians working mainly in the retail sector but also in many industries, where they are working below the award or without penalty rates as a result of sleazy deals between Labor-backed unions and large employers. This evidence was put to the Senate in an inquiry on these deals.

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