Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Lambie. I think, in one respect, you've put forward exactly why unions play such an important role in the workplace by being able to bring employees together to negotiate on behalf of everyone to seek a better deal.

Of course, as a former service woman you would be aware that there aren't unions covering service people. I guess that means that they don't benefit from the union arrangements that are in place for other members who work for the Department of Defence. But one thing I would like to mention is that beyond the basic pay rates and pay rises that are awarded or provided to ADF personnel, of course ADF members' remuneration has also increased through additional factors such as allowances. Salary and allowance increases have been delivered through a combination of an increase through a new salary related allowance framework and a new workplace remuneration arrangement. I am happy to provide you with details of that if that would be of interest.