Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. I refer to the minister's answer yesterday that nobody has lost their job at the ABC. Is the minister aware that at least 300 of the 400 redundancies will be given effect this Christmas? Will the minister now correct the record?

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

The situation in relation to the ABC is a matter for ABC management and its board. So to suggest that it is the government's responsibility in some form is to miss the point. Indeed, what I would say to ABC management is that it is called the Australian Broadcasting Commission true reason. It is supposed to represent all of Australia. Under current management, you could be forgiven for thinking it is called 'the UBC, the Ultimo Broadcasting Corporation'. That is the problem here.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order as to relevance. I would ask you to refer the minister to the question. He was asked about his answer yesterday when he said, 'Nobody has lost their job, and was asked to correct the record.

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

The minister still has one minute and 11 seconds left to answer the question. I remind the minister of the question.

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

Some of the savings the ABC could make without job losses were highlighted for us yesterday in a Fairfax paper, the Sydney Morning Herald, where a former manager of Radio National said:

They didn't have a 9-5 mentality. They had a 10-3 mentality. They planned their work day around their afternoon yoga class.

That does not happen in Hobart, it does not happen in Adelaide, it does not happen in Gladstone but it does happen in Ultimo and that is where the ABC management need to come to grips with its charter and the aspirations of the Australian people.

Senator Wong interjecting—

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

Order on my left!

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order as to direct relevance. I again ask you to draw the attention of the minister to the question which is about whether the minister is aware of the lost jobs and whether he would correct the record of yesterday.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He is misleading the Senate.

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

Order, Senator Wong! Thank you, Senator Moore. I remind the minister he has 26 seconds left to answer the question and I remind him of the question.

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

Another problem with their workplace relations is that:

They were like free-range chickens, wandering around at will, pecking at this and that, content that laying one egg constituted a hard day's work.

At the time I gave the answer yesterday, nobody had lost their jobs, today nobody had lost their job, and I understand redundancy notices might be given out later this week.

Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer to yesterday's concession by the Minister for Defence that there would be '4.5 per cent of ABC cuts over five years'. I also refer to Senator William's confirmation that the Prime Minister promised before the election 'there would not be any cuts to the ABC and it was spot on that the Prime Minister should admit it'. If Senator Johnston and Senator Williams can admit the Prime Minister has broken his promise, I ask the minister: why can't the Prime Minister?

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

It is interesting how the Australian Labor Party are so exercised about cuts to the ABC because when the ALP are asked, when Mr Shorten is asked about what cuts he would make, his answer is, 'We haven't finalised our proposition for government.' When he was asked further, 'We don't think the cuts need to be as deep as they are. In other words, he understands that cuts need to be made to the ABC. Then he went on to say, 'We wouldn't be making the same extent of cuts to the ABC.' What mean and tricky language is that—'not to the same extent'? So tell us, to what extent, Senator Lundy, would the Australian Labor Party cut the ABC?

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order as to direct relevance to the question that was asked. The question was about the Prime Minister's promise and the minister has gone nowhere near any comment about the Prime Minister.

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

Thank you, Senator Moore. I remind the minister of the question. He has 10 seconds left.

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

Even the Australian Labor Party leader, Mr Shorten, understands cuts need to be made. He is just too gutless to tell the Australian people how much. (Time expired)

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order!

Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Minister, through you Mr President, how many more Australian jobs will be lost before the Prime Minister finally admits he has broken his promises and breached faith with the Australian people?

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

This is a government which seeks to preserve every possible job and that is why this government reversed the broken promise of the ALP 'no carbon tax'. The ALP made a promise that there would be no carbon tax, a tax which destroyed thousands of jobs throughout the Australian economy and especially in the manufacturing sector. That is why we got rid of that tax—to preserve jobs. Senator Lundy, I can say to you and your colleagues that that is what motivates us as a government, to get the economy back on track. In circumstances at the time the Prime Minister made his statement about the ABC, Mr Bowen said the deficit would be $18 billion. At the end of the year it was $48 billion as the failed finance minister well knows. (Time expired)

Senator Wong interjecting—

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order. I am trying to listen to senator Abetz and the Leader of the Opposition continuously interjects. It is very difficult for us to hear Senator Abetz.

Senator Wong interjecting—

And she is at it again now. You would expect that from a backbencher but not from the alternative Leader of the Government in the Senate.

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

Thank you, Senator Macdonald. Order! Could I remind senators from both sides of the chamber that interjections—

Senator Wong interjecting—

Senator Wong!

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

Are you trying to suck up to your colleagues now?

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

And Senator Cameron! I remind all senators that interjections are disorderly and that questions and answers should be heard in silence.