Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Hanson. As Senator Green points out, I'm glad you recognise that the government passed laws that were referred to as 'same job, same pay'. My recollection is that you voted against those laws, Senator Hanson. So it's very interesting now that you're calling on us to follow a principle that you were not prepared to follow for any worker. Senator Hanson, you were not prepared to follow that principle for any worker, whether it be police officers in the AFP, coalminers in Central Queensland or any other worker who is experiencing that issue. Of course, Australian Federal Police officers have every right to negotiate and to take whatever action they wish to in line with those laws that we passed. But, as I say, we very much respect the work that AFP officers do each and every day. It is dangerous work. It is important work. That is why the government has put forward an offer, which has been rejected by AFP officers. But I'm confident that those negotiations will continue constructively.