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

Thank you, Mr President. Those on the other side and Mr Shorten, in particular, given the stunt yesterday, will always defend the right of unions to enter into deals with big business to suit themselves and to cut the penalty rates of the lowest-paid workers in Australia. But when the independent Fair Work Commission that was set up by those opposite—and Bill Shorten gave them the terms of reference in relation to the penalty rates case—brings down a decision that gives small businesses in Australia a small break, those on the other side revert exactly to type. They back big business and big unions doing deals to cut penalty rates over small business any day of the week.