Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Submissions to the Fair Work Commission on the penalty rates decision are due by 4 pm tomorrow. Will the government's submission ask the Fair Work Commission not to implement the penalty rates decision—a decision which could cut the pay of nearly 700,000 hardworking Australians? Or is the Prime Minister continuing to support these cuts to penalty rates?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition, again and again, pledged his support for the Fair Work Commission in its penalty rate inquiry. In April last year, he was asked repeatedly by Neil Mitchell, 'Will you support the Fair Work Commission's decision even if it reduces penalty rates?' and he said he would.

The Fair Work Commission is bringing Sunday rates closer to Saturday rates because they have satisfied, after an exhaustive inquiry, that it will increase employment, create more jobs, more opportunities for small businesses to remain open on weekends and create greater opportunities for employment. The Fair Work Commission, after that careful examination, decided to back small business. We are backing small business, too, and so should Labor. The Leader of the Opposition should stick to his word. That would be a bit of innovation—stick to his word. That is what he could do—stick to his word and back small business.