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

I congratulate Senator Bushby on an excellent first speech yesterday and say that he has followed up superbly today with an excellent question, that being his first one. I note from his maiden speech last night that the issue he is asking a question about today is a matter in which he is genuinely interested. Yesterday, the latest official report on agreement making in the Australian workplace was released. Like a number of reports before it, this report totally debunks the false claims being made by the ALP and the ACTU about, in particular, Australian workplace agreements.

Let us compare what the Labor Party says has been happening with what is actually revealed in this document. Let us start with working hours. Those on the other side assert that people are working longer hours. In fact, that is wrong: average weekly hours worked are now at 37.3, a decline, albeit minimal, from 37.4. How about wages? The ALP and ACTU falsely claim that AWAs are forcing down wages—wrong again. Average hourly total earnings for non-managerial employees on AWAs actually increased by 12.8 per cent; they did not decline. But what about wages under AWAs compared with under collective agreements? The rise under collective agreements was 4.1 per cent. So that is: AWAs at 12.8 per cent; collective agreements at 4.1 per cent. Of course, I could go on.

What does all this say about the Howard government’s flexible modern workplace relations system? It says it is working for the benefit of Australian workers and their families, and it says that the false scare campaign against it is exactly that—false. Yet, despite all this, Labor still maintain the ridiculous position that they will rip up AWAs, the central feature of our modern industrial relations system. They will rip up these modern flexible arrangements which provide 8.7 per cent more for workers than under collective agreements. So why would Labor persist in defying common sense on this?

I think we know the answer: it is the trade union movement. I came across a very interesting quote yesterday and I invite those opposite to guess who said it:

The trade union movement keeps the Parliamentary Labor Party in touch with the values and aspirations of working people. It is our greatest source of cohesion …

And I might be able to say:

Without the union movement the Australian Labor Party would rely on a rainbow alliance of single-issue interest groups: environmentalists, peace activists, gays and civil libertarians—

but I do not have to say that; the person whom I am quoting said that as well. With the Labor Party, if it is not the trade union movement, you get a rainbow coalition of ‘environmentalists, peace activists, gays and civil libertarians’. That is the choice in the Labor Party. Do you know who said it? Senior frontbencher Dr Craig Emerson, who would be the small business minister under a Rudd Labor government. I say to those listening: that is the scary prospect of a Rudd Labor government; whereas we on this side understand the needs of the 80 per cent of workers who are not in trade unions. (Time expired)