Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

There are eight to nine per cent of people in the Australian economy who are independent contractors. They include a very wide variety of individuals who contract directly with their employers. That is the system that existed under Labor, under the Fair Work Act, and that is the system which has been preserved with this government. We believe that those people who are subject to awards should be paid according to the award rates, and that those who receive enterprise agreement rates should be paid along those lines. Independent contracts are a valid method of paying individuals in our economy; that has been the case under Labor, and it is the case under this government.

As the Prime Minister noted, the only side of politics in Australia which suggests there should be a pay cut is the members opposite. What they propose should occur—

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