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

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to this sign which is displayed in government call centres, directing staff not to use the term ‘Work Choices’. Given that the government spent $55 million on advertising Work Choices—

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

Order! The deputy leader has made her point. She will put that down.

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

why did the government suddenly decide on a name change? Prime Minister, how much did the government spend on the polling that drove this change of name?

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

Can I say in reply to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition that we did not spend $55 million on advertising a name.

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

Yes, you did.

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

Order! The deputy leader will put that down.

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

We spent $55 million on explaining the implications of the most significant change to Australia’s workplace relations system since World War II. I take the opportunity to remind the Deputy Leader of the Opposition that the framework, and indeed the overwhelming substance, of the legislation passed into law in 2005 remains completely unchanged. With respect to what is new, I do thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who is fascinated by brand names—

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

The deputy leader has asked her question.

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

but is rather insensitive to the substance of policy. She invites me to talk about focus groups. I invite her to get a few focus groups to try and explain the meaning of her policy, to try and explain that her policy—

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

What was it called—the legislation?

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

The deputy leader is warned!

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

has undergone changes on a daily basis. I will spend a moment on the Labor Party’s policy, but before I do so, for the benefit of the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who I know has an interest in these matters, let me assure her that the great substance, the framework, of the legislation that was advertised about 15 months ago has remained completely unchanged. What we have done is to propose—and the minister will introduce legislation next Monday—the introduction of a fairness test. This fairness test will guarantee that any worker who trades away penalty rates or overtime loadings must receive fair compensation in return. I think that is a very good reform.

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!

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

It is a reform that people have urged on us.

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

Mrs Irwin interjecting

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

The member for Fowler is warned, too.

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

I don’t mind acknowledging that there was concern in the community that it might become the norm that those entitlements were traded away without proper compensation. I think, when you make a change like that, you have an obligation to tell the public that you are making the change. I can’t understand why the opposition is getting worked up about some ads that simply state a few facts. These ads tell the Australian public that there are rules and obligations on employers under the workplace relations law. That is what they do. They tell you where you can ring.

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

Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. Is the law the Prime Minister is referring to Work Choices? Is that what he means?

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

The deputy leader will resume her seat. That is not a point of order. The deputy leader has already been warned. She would want to think carefully about her behaviour.

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

We are very happy to take questions on the change that we propose to the workplace relations legislation. I thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition for asking me that question. Let me simply say that the policy which represents a threat to the Australian economy is not the policy which has seen the creation of 270,000 more jobs over the last 12 months, which has seen a continued rise in real wages and which has helped to drive Australia’s strike rate to a level lower than it has been since 1913.