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

My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. In the Turnbull government's submission arguing against a fair increase in the minimum wage, it argues that:

Low-paid employees are often found in high-income households.

In an interview with Neil Mitchell on 3AW, the minister at least five times failed to answer how many of the 200,000 people on minimum wage have a rich family to rely on. Given that she has had time to prepare, will the minister now tell the Senate how many of the 200,000 people have a rich family to rely on?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Cameron for the question. In relation to the first part of his question, I completely reject what he has stated, that the government has filed a submission that does not support an increase in the minimum wage. In relation to the very selective quote that appeared on the front page of a Fairfax newspaper this morning, can I confirm that this is similar information that is provided each year by the government of the day, regardless of who is in power. For example, when you look at the submissions that were provided by the former Labor government in 2011, 2012 and 2013, each of those submissions—

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

Pause the clock. Point of order, Senator Cameron.

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

This is on relevance. The minister has answered the first part of the question. The second part of the question went to one issue: how many of the 200,000 people have a rich family to rely on? That was the question. The minister has had time to understand and prepare.

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

I remind the minister of the question. Minister you have one minute and 15 seconds.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. As I stated, this is information that is provided to the Fair Work Commission, regardless of who is in government. In relation to the question that Senator Cameron has asked, the question actually does not go to the 200,000 people who are on the minimum wage. The statistic is actually in relation to the number of low-paid employees and in relation to that, it is just under 50 per cent.

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

Can the minister further advise how many of the 200,000 workers on low wages are women and how would a freeze in the minimum wage affect the gender pay gap?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Cameron. In relation to the annual wage review, obviously it looks at low paid and those who are on the national minimum wage regardless of gender. In relation to the actual impact on women, however, one of the points that the submission does make in relation to the gender pay gap is that because women are more likely to be on awards or on the minimum wage than men there is less likely to be a gender pay gap because they are normally paid the equivalent rate as the person they are working next to if they are a man. The point that the submission makes is if you want to look at a gender pay gap, you actually have to look further up to higher paid people.

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

Why is the Turnbull government's only advice to struggling Australians to have rich parents or marry up?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, Senator Cameron, I completely reject the statement. That is not the government's advice. As I said, in relation to the very selective quote that was made, that was provided by government, regardless of who was in power, in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The former Labor government provided very similar information. Senator Cameron, based on your history in relation to industrial relations, you would know that governments, in relation to the annual wage review, provide contemporary economic data to the Fair Work Commission that the Fair Work Commission is then able to take into account when determining whether or not there should be an increase in the minimum wage. The one being we do not shy away from—and it is something that Bill Shorten did not shy away from when he was the relevant minister—is that you also need to take into account—

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

Pause the clock. Point of order, Senator Cameron?

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

My point of order is on relevance. The question I asked was consistent with what the government ministers and the Prime Minister have been saying, which is that what you should do is get rich parents or marry up. The minister has not—

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

Order, Senator Cameron! There is no point of order. The minister has been directly relevant and has answered your question directly. The minister is in order. Minister, you have five seconds.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are a number of factors to be taken into account, and we present that information to the commission.