Stephen Smith (Perth, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Regrettably, my question is not to the chicken; it is to the Prime Minister.

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

The member for Perth will come to his question.

Stephen Smith (Perth, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am, Mr Speaker. I again refer the Prime Minister to the Connor Hunter website, which also states:

Now a workplace agreement will result in a reduction in the overall terms and conditions of employment of the employee.

Isn’t this confirmed by the government’s own statistics, provided at Senate estimates on 29 May, which showed that under the Prime Minister’s industrial relations legislation, from March until Senate estimates in May, 52 per cent of AWAs reduced or removed shiftwork loadings, 63 per cent of AWAs reduced or removed penalty rates and 64 per cent of AWAs reduced or removed leave loadings?

Wilson Tuckey (O'Connor, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Tuckey interjecting

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

The member for O’Connor is warned!

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

Mr Speaker, through you, I would remind the member for Perth that it is now 2 November, the world has not come to an end and the sky has not fallen in.

Stephen Smith (Perth, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Stephen Smith interjecting

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

The member for Perth has asked his question.

Stephen Smith (Perth, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Stephen Smith interjecting

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

The member for Perth has asked his question.

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

We have continued to employ Australians at a record high. We have seen 205,000 more jobs created in Australia.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Childcare) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Plibersek interjecting

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

We have seen, to your great sorrow and sadness, the real wages of Australians continuing to rise. We have seen every slur against the Work Choices legislation—all wrong.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Childcare) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Plibersek interjecting

Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Hall interjecting

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

The member for Sydney is warned, and so is the member for Shortland!

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

It is very interesting that on the last day of this week we hear from the member for Perth, having followed weeks and weeks and weeks of not having heard from him, because every time he gets up in this place he gets his facts wrong. He has established an absolute world record for a frontbencher in getting his facts wrong. Every claim he has made has been demonstrated to be wrong. Every specific example he has half quoted or misrepresented; explanatory clauses are left out of the questions he puts. The member for Perth, on industrial relations, has no credibility—no wonder the unions around the country are rumbling for his removal.

Julie Owens (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Owens interjecting

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

The member for Parramatta is warned too!