Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Government in the Senate is at the table, and he says that is right. Those opposite may not understand that going from a pay rate of $22.02 an hour to a rate of $17.49 an hour under the award is a reduction. But let me tell you, the cleaners and their families understand that.

Labor will continue to oppose any abolition of the guidelines that apply to cleaners working for Australian government agencies and contractors. We will not support that move, including in the bills that are before the Senate today. And, as I flagged, we will move an amendment when these bills are considered in committee—an amendment that seeks to protect the guidelines from being abolished as a consequence of the adoption of the new legislative framework from 1 July 2014.

We understand—and I want to confirm this in a minute with the minister—that inserting this section into schedule 2, part 2 of the PGPA (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill will mean that through the operation of item 60 of the bill the guidelines will not cease to continue to be in force. That is, this amendment ensures that the guidelines will not be abolished as a result of the passage of this legislation. If supported, the amendment would allow for the continuation of the guidelines due to the operation of item 60.

I look forward to the government's support for the maintenance of these guidelines into the future. Labor will support these bills at the second reading and will support their passage subject to agreement to the amendment that I will move in the Committee of the Whole.