Julia Irwin (Fowler, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the government’s $55 million advertising campaign, which included this WorkChoices booklet stamping the entitlements of rest breaks, annual leave loadings, allowances, shift overtime loadings as ‘Protected by law’. I also refer to the AWA offered to employees at the New South Wales child-care centre operator, Childs Family Kindergartens, which cuts the wages for child-care workers set by the New South Wales Industrial Relations Commission and expressly removes a number of provisions, including rest breaks, annual leave loading, first aid allowance and overtime payments beyond two extra hours work. Rather than being protected, don’t these conditions disappear with the stroke of a pen—your pen, Prime Minister?

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

The answer to the honourable member’s question is that the reference made, which is apparently in 4.4 on page 22, was entirely correct and entirely consistent with what has occurred. I do not know what is in the workplace agreement to which the honourable member refers. I think I will look at it myself, if she wants to send it to me, and then I might be able to enlighten the House even more.