Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is again to the Prime Minister and is about the Spotlight 2c an hour AWA which would see Mrs Annette Harris lose $90 a week in take-home pay. I ask whether the Prime Minister has seen the statement by Mrs Harris in this week’s Coffs Coast Advocate:

How dare he—

that is the Prime Minister—

make comments like that sitting in his ivory tower ... Without us, the workers, you haven’t got a job, without us you haven’t got an economy.

When will the Prime Minister go to Coffs Harbour and explain to Mrs Harris how cutting the take-home pay of hardworking employees like Mrs Harris helps our economy?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. All members will put those posters down immediately. The Prime Minister will resume his seat. I asked the Leader of the Opposition to resume his seat before he had completed his question. I will give him the opportunity to finish his question, but he will not display that poster again. I call the Leader of the Opposition.

Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When will the Prime Minister go to Coffs Harbour and explain to Mrs Harris how cutting the take-home pay of hardworking employees like Mrs Harris helps our economy?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If those posters are displayed again, I will take action.

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have repeatedly said that the strength of the Australian economy is due to the efforts of the working men and women of this country. I would remind the Leader of the Opposition that the working men and women of Australia have been more adequately rewarded for their efforts under this government than they were under the former Labor government. The last person in this parliament who can speak with pride about rewarding the ordinary working men and women of this country is the former Deputy Prime Minister in the Keating government because, as those who follow these matters will know, real wages under this government have increased by 16.8 per cent over the last 10 years compared to a paltry increase of only 1.3 per cent under Labor. In relation to Mrs Annette Harris, I am informed that she exercised her right to reject the AWA and remains employed as a part-time employee on the relevant award after refusing to accept the AWA.