Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister now tell the House whether he agrees that two workers doing the same job at the same workplace should get the same pay?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The opposition seek to take on a matter that is actually far more complicated than they suggest, because there are many other issues that go to what is happening in any one workplace. What's important is that, in that workplace, there should be the opportunities for Australians to be able to get the hours they're looking for, to be able to extend their hours and to be able to earn more in their place of work. The best way for them to achieve that is working for businesses that are actually making profits and are actually going forward. In the absence of a growing economy, in the absence of a government policy that is actually encouraging businesses to get back on their feet, workers are worse off.

In an alternative policy setting that would see higher taxes under the Labor Party—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's on direct relevance, Mr Speaker. It's a really tight question. It's the second time we've asked it in this form. There are a whole lot of opportunities for the Prime Minister to give wide-ranging industrial relations answers, but this one is about same job, same pay.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll make two points briefly. Yes, it was a tight question, but it was one of those questions that's highlighted in Practice as inviting a yes or no answer which you can't compel the Prime Minister or a minister to give. So the Prime Minister is entitled to go over the territory he went over until just very recently. The question doesn't allow an examination of alternative policies. The Prime Minister was in order until that point.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So the government will continue to ensure that businesses in this country pay lower taxes as our policies deliver to continue to operate together with employees to ensure they have the best possible set of arrangements to ensure that Australians can get back into work as a result of what we're doing post this COVID-19 recession so they can earn more, so they can get more hours and so they can support those enterprises to go forward with confidence. We're seeing confidence lift in our economy. We're seeing the comeback well underway. Under those policies, Australian workers are better off.