Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

I apologise, Mr President—I was absolutely amazed by that answer. My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. I refer to Hutchison Ports Australia and the reprehensible sacking of 97 employees in five-minutes-to-midnight text messages on Friday night, effective immediately. I also refer to the minister's statement:

If the culture is that employees can text message the boss and they in fact expect the boss to text message them, then that may be an appropriate methodology.

Does the minister really endorse text messages as a means of terminating employment in this country?