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

My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Yesterday I met with Kate, who, while working in South Australia, was paid $25 a day to pick 800 kilos of oranges. Kate worked seven days a week but still had to search for food in local supermarket garbage bins. Why does the government allow conditions like this in Australia?

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'd be happy to take from the member for Watson the specific details about Kate, but we do have a welfare safety net system here in Australia, and it is the envy of the world. We do have the highest minimum wage—

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

The Acting Prime Minister will pause. Members on my left will cease interjecting.

Mr Thistlethwaite interjecting—

The member for Kingsford Smith will leave the chamber. He can go back and access his office.

The member for Kingsford Smith then left the chamber.

Just before I call the Acting Prime Minister, I've ejected a number of people. I'm now issuing a very general warning that involves everybody: do not interject if you want to remain in the chamber. The Acting Prime Minister.

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. We have the highest minimum wage of anywhere in the world. That's what we have in Australia. We should be proud of that and we should extoll the virtues of that every day in every way. We should be talking up the fact that we do have the highest minimum wage in the world.

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

The Acting Prime Minister will resume his seat. 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

On direct relevance: the question goes specifically to someone who is paid piece rates; they don't receive the minimum wage. It's part of how it works in Australia and it goes to her conditions and the way she's had to live.

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

The Acting Prime Minister has the call.

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I take the member for Watson's point, but we are operating under the same system of wages and industrial relations that we did when Labor were in government. Indeed, there was a wage decision case made this week, which—

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

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

The member for Sydney will leave under standing order 94(a). The Acting Prime Minister will continue.

The member for Sydney then left the chamber.

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

was important, and I might get the member for Bradfield, who is the industrial relations minister, to answer further on my behalf.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Acting Prime Minister for the opportunity to add to the answer. As he said, we have an industrial relations framework which reflects what was introduced by the previous government. I make it very clear: our government has zero tolerance for any exploitation of workers and is committed to ensuring that workers have the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the Australian economy without the fear of exploitation. We have the highest minimum wage in the world and we have extensive safety guards in place. Of course, if the member wants to provide further information about the individual circumstances, we will look at it, but we have clear safeguards in place to support people in the workforce.