Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Abetz. I refer to the number of Australian workers who are paid below the federal minimum wage. Is the minister aware that the activity test for Newstart has both an hour’s component and a minimum income component? Is the minister aware that people who work the hours specified by Centrelink, but are paid below the minimum wage, would fail the remuneration test when they come to claim Centrelink benefits? How many people have been breached by Centrelink as a consequence of being paid below the minimum wage?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There were a number of questions, but it coalesced in the last question in relation to the actual numbers. I do not have them to hand in the briefs before me.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why not?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will take the question away and come back to the honourable senator with an answer.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Bob Brown interjecting—

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Does Centrelink report to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations or any other regulatory bodies when it receives evidence that employers are paying workers below the minimum wage?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In relation to the quite silly interjection from the leader of the Australian Greens, I was trying to be polite to Senator Siewert. The administration of Centrelink falls within the portfolio responsibility of the Minister representing the Minister for Human Services. I very politely said I would take it on board, and we have this barrage of silly interjections coming from the leader of the Australian Greens. I am willing to take the supplementary question on notice as well to see if we can get an answer from the Minister for Human Services for the benefit of Senator Siewert.