Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I think, Senator Siewert, that Mr Bandt asked a similar question in the House of Representatives yesterday. I think the proposition is that by agreeing to the union claim we will save money as compared to the decision we will get from Fair Work Australia. That seems a very odd proposition to me. It almost implies that the union has undervalued its claim—and I do not think that is right. I think it is seeking an appropriate response to the pay inequality that exists between that sector and other like sectors based on the fact that this has been driven by the large number of women employed in the sector—where there is a predominance of women—and that their work has been undervalued. So I do not accept the premise of the question.

The government remains actively engaged in the process. We are appearing at a conciliation hearing tomorrow, where we will provide further information, and we will be making a submission, as requested by Fair Work Australia, in the next few weeks. (Time expired)