Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

And if they keep interjecting, I will just repeat it: they get a higher salary. That is why workers want AWAs—because they get a higher salary. But they also choose not to have overtime or rostered days off, or some of the other award based allowances. So they are getting remuneration in place of some of the allowances they previously received. What we have is a situation where the Commonwealth Bank is offering flexibility.

As Mr Combet himself has indicated, the High Court decision has removed all constitutional doubt. And it is very interesting: that was another of the Labor Party’s criticisms, that this was unconstitutional. It was fully and wholly upheld by Australia’s High Court. So the Labor Party were wrong on that score as well. But I do welcome the fact that I have been able to embarrass the Australian Labor Party into finally asking another question about Work Choices, given the drought of some 30 weeks since they last asked a question on Work Choices.