Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Treasurer. Can the Treasurer confirm that, under the hiring credit scheme, an employer can sack a full-time worker aged over 35 and replace them with multiple younger part-time workers to gain extra hours of labour at no extra cost?

Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Rankin has been set up again, because he rushed out with the member for Corio to put out a press release based on an FOI to Treasury. I want to read to the member for Rankin and to this House what the FOI from Treasury said. These are the exact words.

Dr Chalmers interjecting—

He's a bit chirpy because he doesn't want to hear what the Treasury's FOI says.

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

The Treasurer will answer the question.

Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Treasury FOI says, 'The hiring credit does not create an incentive for an employer to replace an older worker with several new part-time workers.' The FOI goes on to say, 'The only situation in which the employer is better off is one which is unaffected by the availability of the hiring credit.' It's very clear that the hiring credit has a two-tier test: it's only for additional employees, and the payroll has to be above that which was previously paid by that particular employer.

The member for Rankin has form for falling flat on his face. He really does. He contradicted the head of the RBA by saying that the RBA was saying that the government has not done enough in the budget.

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

The member for Rankin on a point of order?

Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, thank you, Speaker: relevance. The question was about whether an older worker can be sacked and replaced with younger workers to get more hours at no extra cost.

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

The Treasurer has the call. I'm listening carefully to the Treasurer.

Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I repeat: the FOI makes it very clear. It does not create an incentive for an employer to replace an older worker with several new part-time workers. The member for Rankin has been contradicted by the RBA, the ATO and now the Treasury.