Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It was $11.5 million; thank you, Senator Ronaldson, for correcting me.

I conclude on this point: the act put in place by the government does not lead to fair outcomes; it does not have a fair process in place for employers; and it does not lead to results that are going to improve the overall economy. Over the next 12 months we are going to see exactly what the consequences of this government’s approach to industrial relations are. This government will carry that weight—it will be lead in its saddlebags—as unemployment increases and a very small number of people benefit. For example, one thing that the government has not mentioned—and maybe we should have asked Senator Arbib about this; we saw a report only today—is that, if you happen to be a teenager or working late at night in the retail sector or in the fast food sector, your wages are being cut under a ruling by Fair Work Australia. It is because you are not a member of the MUA, a preferred constituent of the Labor Party.

Question agreed to.