Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

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

Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has the call.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! Members are holding up their own question time. When a member gets the call to ask a question she—in this case—will be heard. I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker—they don’t get out much! My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and it relates to his claims that the government’s so-called Work Choices laws have created jobs. Minister, why is it that 13,000 fewer jobs were created between March 2006 and January 2007, after Work Choices, than in the period between March 2004 and January 2005, which was before Work Choices?

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We do not apologise for introducing laws that have helped to create an environment where jobs can be created. I say this to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition: governments do not create jobs; business creates jobs.

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order!

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I say to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition: a strong economy is the best basis upon which you can create a job. All the regulation in the world under the Labor Party in the 1990s—

Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Brendan O’Connor interjecting

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

Order! The member for Gorton is warned!

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

could not prevent nearly one million Australians losing their jobs. All the laws that the Labor Party had in the 1990s could not protect one million workers who were left on the scrapheap. The only way you can create jobs is if you have got a customer coming in the door—

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Gillard interjecting

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

Order! The Deputy Leader has asked her question.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and under the coalition business is having strong growth and low inflation and we are helping to create an environment that creates jobs.

Cameron Thompson (Blair, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is also to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Would the minister inform the House how a flexible workplace relations system contributes to jobs growth and economic prosperity? Is the minister aware of any threats to this system and Australian jobs?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I refer you to standing order 100(b).

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

The question is in order. It is not the same question.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I note that the unemployment rate in the member for Blair’s electorate is now 5.2 per cent. In the last year of Labor it was 9.4 per cent. As I just said, sound economic management gives business the platform to be able to create jobs. That was confirmed by an overnight OECD report, and I urge the deputy leader to listen to this carefully. The OECD report backed our Work Choices legislation by saying that—

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Gillard interjecting

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

Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition!

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

the unfair dismissal law was an impediment to job creation. The OECD said:

Strict employment protection legislation—

such as unfair dismissal laws—

is likely to increase the length of unemployment spells and thereby long-term unemployment. Likewise, the job prospects for those groups with relatively weak attachment to the labour market such as young workers and women can be compromised.

Basically, they are saying that the Labor Party’s job-destroying, unfair dismissal laws actually hurt those most vulnerable—

Arch Bevis (Brisbane, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Homeland Security) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They were Peter Reith’s.

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

Order! I have called the member for Brisbane to order several times. I have given him a warning. He continues to interject. He will remove himself under standing order 94(a).

Arch Bevis (Brisbane, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Homeland Security) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Bevis interjecting

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

I name the member for Brisbane!

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the member for Brisbane be suspended from the service of the House.

Question put.

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

Order! The honourable member for Brisbane is suspended from the service of the House for 24 hours under standing order 94(b).

The member for Brisbane then left the chamber.

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

Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.