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

My question again is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Will the minister provide an absolute guarantee to the parliament that the government will not introduce conditions into the federal-state healthcare funding agreements which require that Australia’s 250,000 nurses be pushed onto Australian Workplace Agreements?

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

No, I have decided to take it, Mr Speaker.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! The Prime Minister has the call.

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

I have considered this matter, particularly in the light of what the deputy leader had to say at the doors, and let me assure her we have no proposal to do any such thing.

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

Say ‘never ever’! Is that a rock-solid, ironclad guarantee?

Simon Crean (Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Trade and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That’s code. That’s a ‘never-ever’ promise!

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

Order! Members are holding up their own question time.