Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Hansard source

That is not correct. They will have an opportunity, but again I go to the point that the award applies currently under your system; under our system it is prevailing pay and conditions. There is a fundamental difference. I also refer you to the review panel that the now Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten himself handpicked to review your legislation. One of the reasons that we are standing here today is that there are a number of recommendations made by that review panel—your review panel, your handpicked people. We canvassed this last night: the reason that the government is considering this greenfields relief valve measure is that an issue has been clearly identified that certain unions have in some circumstances frustrated greenfields agreement processes. Again, we canvassed this last night, and at that time I read from the findings of Labor's own handpicked reviewers of the Fair Work Act, where they recalled evidence and submissions that some unions had hijacked the greenfields processes, that greenfields negotiations were lengthy, torturous and onerous and that within itself jeopardises projects.