Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

I misheard and I am willing accept that.

The simple fact is that the premise of the question is false. At no time did anybody get a pay cut with a removal of the regulation. It was removed in July and the allegation was that people's pay would be cut. Was anybody's pay cut because of the removal of the regulation in July?

Opposition senators interjecting—

No, not in July—thank you, very much. In August? Not in August. In September? No. In recent times, there has been a new contract entered into and that new contract has, as part of it, that the cleaners would be paid according to the union negotiated enterprise bargaining agreement. Therefore, if it is asserted that these people are being underpaid, being paid less than they deserve, it is not a reflection on myself; it is a reflection on the trade union movement that negotiated that enterprise agreement, which according to Senator Lines, sees these people allegedly being underpaid. Let us be very clear: a new contract was entered into and when new contracts are entered into parameters, regrettably, change from time to time—as the CFMEU found out in Senator Lines's own home state. (Time expired)