Bob Day (SA, Family First Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment and Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Abetz. I refer to the statement by the Prime Minister on 28 May 2014 when he said, 'People are more than capable of making decisions based on what is best for them,' and also to the statement by the Minister for Social Services when he said, 'The best form of welfare is a job.' If both those statements are true, why then can a person over the age of 18 in my home state of South Australia get married, have children, drive a motor vehicle, fly an aeroplane, buy a house, take out a mortgage, enter into a mobile phone contract, travel to some of the most dangerous places on earth, smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, enlisted in the armed forces and shoot enemy combatants, and of course vote but not enter into an employment arrangement which, to again quote the Prime Minister, 'is best for them'?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Day for his question. I congratulate him on his first question and also I thank him for providing me with notice of the question. It was a bit of a bonus receiving a suggested answer as well! I say to Senator Day that it comes as no surprise that you should ask a question about this topic, given your life-long commitment to creating jobs and your concern for the young of Australia, especially of your home state of South Australia. As to your list of 12 activities, I think I could tick off about nine of them. I will let you guess which three I am not able to tick off.

In direct response to the honourable senator's question, this government is concerned about creating the environment where there can be jobs the young people. So the overarching effort of the government is to create the environment the job creation. The reason for that is that a life on welfare does nobody any favours, especially those who are the recipients of the welfare. That is why the government has adopted recommendations from the former Labor government's review of the fair work laws to clarify the intention of individual flexibility arrangements, to provide more flexibility to workers, to approach their employer and, just so those opposite understand, in Labor's own explanatory memorandum these arrangements were in order to meet the genuine needs of the employee and employer. We did say at the last election that we would not take our policies further than the 38-page policy document and, therefore, we do not too intend to go as far down the track as the senator has suggested. (Time expired)

Bob Day (SA, Family First Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Given rising levels of unemployment in Australia and, in particular, tragically high levels of youth unemployment in my home state, over 40 per cent in some areas, will the government please allow those young people who want to to opt out of the Fair Work Act and allow them to enter the workforce on their own terms if they so choose?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no doubt that unemployment is a social scourge. What is more, youth unemployment is an even worse social scourge. That is why I can understand Senator Day's concern, a concern I share with him.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock. Order on my right! Senator Gallacher, a point of order?

Alex Gallacher (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, Mr President. Standing order 186(1) is continually not being observed. Would they at least address the microphone so that we can hear the answer to that question?

Government senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Gallacher. Order on my right!

Government senators interjecting—

Order on my right! I am waiting to call the Leader of the Government in the Senate.

Government senators: Who's in charge? Where's your leader—getting instructions from Clive?

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You would know about Clive's instructions. You've followed them faithfully. You're a bunch of wimps. Clive says, 'Jump!' and you say, 'How high?'

Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You jumped. Penny jumped. Don’t come up with that nonsense!

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my right and on my left! Senator Back and Senator Cameron!

There was a point of order raised. One of the reasons, Senator Gallacher, we cannot hear ministers answering questions is the noise in the chamber. Senator Abetz was absolutely within the standing orders. He was addressing the question and the microphone was picking up his voice. Senator Abetz, you have the call.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. I share Senator Day's concern about the scourge of unemployment, especially the scourge of youth unemployment. The Fair Work Commission is currently undertaking its four-yearly review of modern awards, and I trust the commission will carefully consider the employability of young people.

They did show common sense with the after-school minimum hours decision in the retail sector, and I would invite them to also consider their decisions and the impact on youth employment. I also remind the senator that shortly we will have a Productivity Commission review into the whole Fair Work regime. (Time expired)

Bob Day (SA, Family First Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Given the clear emergency that now exists with respect to youth unemployment, for those young people and their families who wish to, will the government please allow those young people to fund their own job subsidy by allowing them to work at rates of pay and under terms and conditions which—

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Really?

Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Bring back indentured labour?

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What about a bit of child labour?

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left. Order! Senator Day, you have the call.

Bob Day (SA, Family First Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

which they and their families consider—and I again quote the Prime Minister—'best for them'?

Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What is best for them is a decent wage.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Labor Party's reaction to a senator's first question is indicative of the lack of courtesy shown all week during question time.

I agree that there is a youth unemployment emergency. I believe that things may get worse, and that is why the economy needs to be fixed. That is why we need to get rid of the carbon tax; to undo some of the damage that has been done over the past six years. In your home state of South Australia, Senator Day, and in my home state of Tasmania, the youth unemployment rate is simply unacceptable. That is why we are seeking to build a stronger economy.

Having said all that, I remind you that we did go to the last election with a 38-page policy which we said we would not deviate from. I encourage you and any other interested party to make submissions to the Fair Work Commission and the Productivity Commission. (Time expired)