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

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. On 17 March, when asked by Neil Mitchell of 3AW, 'Do you support the cut to Sunday penalty rates or not?' the Prime Minister responded, 'Well, we do support it, Neil, and I've been very clear about that.' Will the minister finally concede the Prime Minister supports a cut to penalty rates?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cameron, I have to point out to you that the Fair Work Commission's decision or award was delivered on 23 February. So, when the Prime Minister was asked on 17 March whether he supported a decision of the Fair Work Commission, of course he did, as you ought to have done, Senator, and as every member of this parliament ought to support the decisions of an independent umpire—established, by the way, as I have pointed out ad nauseam this week, by your side of politics to be an independent arbiter. I might say that Mr Shorten, in advance of the decision of the Fair Work Commission—

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

Order! Pause the clock. Senator Cameron on a point of order.

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

Thank you, Mr President—on relevance. This did not ask whether the Prime Minister supported the decision; it was whether the Prime Minister supported cuts to penalty rates, as he conceded on 17 March.

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

Senator Cameron, you did ask the Attorney-General whether he would finally concede the point, and the answer that the Attorney-General has been giving is indicating he is not conceding the point that you have asked. The Attorney-General is directly relevant.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister said what he said, and the point I am making through you, Mr President, to Senator Cameron is that what the Prime Minister was saying was that he was supporting a decision made some four weeks earlier by the Fair Work Commission, as ought all members of parliament. People can have their views about whether they would have wished the decision to be otherwise than it was, but what no member of parliament has the option to do is to say, 'We refuse to accept or to support the decision of an independent umpire.' It is particularly implausible and unimpressive coming from the lips of Labor senators who actually established this body for the very purpose of being an independent umpire. If you establish a body—an arbitral tribunal—to be an independent umpire, you are bound to accept its decisions, as the Prime Minister indicated, in the interview which you have referenced, that he did.

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

Senator Cameron, a supplementary question.

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

In addition to the cut to penalty rates, the Australian Retailers Association is now pushing for a below-inflation minimum wage rise. Does the Prime Minister also support a pay cut in real terms for those on the minimum wage?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Fair Work Commission made it perfectly clear that its decision only applies to the retail and hospitality industries. So far as I am aware, there are no proceedings currently before the Fair Work Commission of the kind that you have suggested. I will tell you what the Fair Work Commission had to say when it gave its award in relation to hospitality and retail workers:

Given the distinguishing characteristics of the hospitality and retail sectors—

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

Order! Pause the clock. Senator Cameron, a point of order.

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

Yes, again on relevance. The question was in response to the Australian Retailers Association publicly pushing for a below-inflation minimum wage rise. I have simply asked: does the Prime Minister also support a pay cut in real terms for those on the minimum wage? The minister has not gone to that question.

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

I have to interpret it by inference there that the minister is supposed to be rejecting the fact that the Fair Work Commission will be looking at this issue. So, by definition, the minister is rejecting the question that you have asked in relation to the Prime Minister's support for that. That is the only way I can interpret that.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Let me start again. The commission said:

Given the distinguishing characteristics of the Hospitality and Retail sectors, the decisions we have made in respect of the Hospitality and Retail Awards provide no warrant for the variation of penalty rates in other modern awards.

What you are trying to do, Senator Cameron, is create fear and uncertainty where there is none. (Time expired)

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

Senator Cameron, a final supplementary question.

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

With the Prime Minister supporting pay cuts while wage growth is at its lowest level since the ABS first published the Wage Price Index in 1998, isn't it clear that working and middle-class Australians will always lose out under the Turnbull government?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cameron, what an ardent class warrior you are.

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

Thank you.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In fact, at the moment, Senator Cameron, I can tell you that the minimum wage of $672.70 per week represents an increase in the minimum wage, year on year, of 2.4 per cent. The inflation rate in the calendar year 2016 was 1.0 per cent, so there has been growth in real terms in the minimum wage over the last year. You asked me about the Prime Minister.

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

They've never had it so good! Luxury!

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

Senator Cameron, you have asked your question.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will tell you, Senator Cameron, the Prime Minister, like every member of the government, will support, respect and accept the decisions of an independent umpire, whatever those decisions are, and so should you.