❓ Mr. McRae questions the implications of a statement by federal minister Ian Macfarlane regarding the need to reduce Australian wages. Mr. Kobelke responds by criticising the federal government's approach and defending current wage levels.
AnsweredQoN 415Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Is the minister aware of the federal minister Ian Macfarlane’s statement on the need to reduce Australian wages; and, if so, what are the implications of doing that? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
It was very interesting that Ian Macfarlane, the national Minister - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the member for Dawesville agree with him? Ian Macfarlane said that we have to ensure that industrial relations reforms continue so that we have the labour prices of New Zealand. The minimum wage in Australia is approximately $12.75 an hour. The New Zealand minimum wage is AU$8.75 an hour. Deregulation in New Zealand has resulted in lower productivity and output and lower investment than that of Australia because it has not looked at growing its labour market and making sure that it has high productivity and decent wages. It is now trying to work its way out of that situation. The Prime Minister and the federal government are attempting to lower Australian wages and to take us down the New Zealand path. Clearly, that is what the federal minister was talking about. The approach of the Howard Liberal government is about deregulation and lowering wages. It wants us to travel down the same path as New Zealand, which would result in a range of problems that we do not have in Australia. We have high productivity, a huge growth in exports and an economy that is powering ahead on the basis of our providing decent wages. The Howard government has a different view, and that view was clearly reflected in what Ian Macfarlane is reported to have said in the media today and yesterday. The federal government’s rhetoric, however, is very different. Its rhetoric is about more jobs. We know that it is just rhetoric because that is what it was in Western Australia under the last Liberal Government when there was talk about more choice and flexibility and of no-one’s wages being lowered. We know that that meant that the minimum wage in Western Australia was $50 a week lower than in the rest of Australia. It also meant that the wages of some employees dropped by $150 a week. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Members from the Liberal Party are interjecting because they support lower wages. That was the Liberal Party’s policy when it was last in government: a minimum wage that was $50 a week lower than anywhere else in Australia. People working in this building had their wages cut - not eroded - because they were employed on workplace agreements that were put in place by the last Liberal Government. The Western Australian Liberals have a track record. They believe in lower wages and in removing basic conditions that look after workers and their families. Ian Macfarlane has provided the absolute truth of the Howard government’s extreme proposed changes to industrial relations; namely, lowering wages, reducing conditions and creating job insecurity. It has no vision for this nation.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: It was very interesting that Ian Macfarlane, the national Minister - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the member for Dawesville agree with him? Ian Macfarlane said that we have to ensure that industrial relations reforms continue so that we have the labour prices of New Zealand. The minimum wage in Australia is approximately $12.75 an hour. The New Zealand minimum wage is AU$8.75 an hour. Deregulation in New Zealand has resulted in lower productivity and output and lower investment than that of Australia because it has not looked at growing its labour market and making sure that it has high productivity and decent wages. It is now trying to work its way out of that situation. The Prime Minister and the federal government are attempting to lower Australian wages and to take us down the New Zealand path. Clearly, that is what the federal minister was talking about. The approach of the Howard Liberal government is about deregulation and lowering wages. It wants us to travel down the same path as New Zealand, which would result in a range of problems that we do not have in Australia. We have high productivity, a huge growth in exports and an economy that is powering ahead on the basis of our providing decent wages. The Howard government has a different view, and that view was clearly reflected in what Ian Macfarlane is reported to have said in the media today and yesterday. The federal government’s rhetoric, however, is very different. Its rhetoric is about more jobs. We know that it is just rhetoric because that is what it was in Western Australia under the last Liberal Government when there was talk about more choice and flexibility and of no-one’s wages being lowered. We know that that meant that the minimum wage in Western Australia was $50 a week lower than in the rest of Australia. It also meant that the wages of some employees dropped by $150 a week. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Members from the Liberal Party are interjecting because they support lower wages. That was the Liberal Party’s policy when it was last in government: a minimum wage that was $50 a week lower than anywhere else in Australia. People working in this building had their wages cut - not eroded - because they were employed on workplace agreements that were put in place by the last Liberal Government. The Western Australian Liberals have a track record. They believe in lower wages and in removing basic conditions that look after workers and their families. Ian Macfarlane has provided the absolute truth of the Howard government’s extreme proposed changes to industrial relations; namely, lowering wages, reducing conditions and creating job insecurity. It has no vision for this nation.
It was very interesting that Ian Macfarlane, the national Minister - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the member for Dawesville agree with him? Ian Macfarlane said that we have to ensure that industrial relations reforms continue so that we have the labour prices of New Zealand. The minimum wage in Australia is approximately $12.75 an hour. The New Zealand minimum wage is AU$8.75 an hour. Deregulation in New Zealand has resulted in lower productivity and output and lower investment than that of Australia because it has not looked at growing its labour market and making sure that it has high productivity and decent wages. It is now trying to work its way out of that situation. The Prime Minister and the federal government are attempting to lower Australian wages and to take us down the New Zealand path. Clearly, that is what the federal minister was talking about. The approach of the Howard Liberal government is about deregulation and lowering wages. It wants us to travel down the same path as New Zealand, which would result in a range of problems that we do not have in Australia. We have high productivity, a huge growth in exports and an economy that is powering ahead on the basis of our providing decent wages. The Howard government has a different view, and that view was clearly reflected in what Ian Macfarlane is reported to have said in the media today and yesterday. The federal government’s rhetoric, however, is very different. Its rhetoric is about more jobs. We know that it is just rhetoric because that is what it was in Western Australia under the last Liberal Government when there was talk about more choice and flexibility and of no-one’s wages being lowered. We know that that meant that the minimum wage in Western Australia was $50 a week lower than in the rest of Australia. It also meant that the wages of some employees dropped by $150 a week. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Members from the Liberal Party are interjecting because they support lower wages. That was the Liberal Party’s policy when it was last in government: a minimum wage that was $50 a week lower than anywhere else in Australia. People working in this building had their wages cut - not eroded - because they were employed on workplace agreements that were put in place by the last Liberal Government. The Western Australian Liberals have a track record. They believe in lower wages and in removing basic conditions that look after workers and their families. Ian Macfarlane has provided the absolute truth of the Howard government’s extreme proposed changes to industrial relations; namely, lowering wages, reducing conditions and creating job insecurity. It has no vision for this nation.
Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the member for Dawesville agree with him? Ian Macfarlane said that we have to ensure that industrial relations reforms continue so that we have the labour prices of New Zealand. The minimum wage in Australia is approximately $12.75 an hour. The New Zealand minimum wage is AU$8.75 an hour. Deregulation in New Zealand has resulted in lower productivity and output and lower investment than that of Australia because it has not looked at growing its labour market and making sure that it has high productivity and decent wages. It is now trying to work its way out of that situation. The Prime Minister and the federal government are attempting to lower Australian wages and to take us down the New Zealand path. Clearly, that is what the federal minister was talking about. The approach of the Howard Liberal government is about deregulation and lowering wages. It wants us to travel down the same path as New Zealand, which would result in a range of problems that we do not have in Australia. We have high productivity, a huge growth in exports and an economy that is powering ahead on the basis of our providing decent wages. The Howard government has a different view, and that view was clearly reflected in what Ian Macfarlane is reported to have said in the media today and yesterday. The federal government’s rhetoric, however, is very different. Its rhetoric is about more jobs. We know that it is just rhetoric because that is what it was in Western Australia under the last Liberal Government when there was talk about more choice and flexibility and of no-one’s wages being lowered. We know that that meant that the minimum wage in Western Australia was $50 a week lower than in the rest of Australia. It also meant that the wages of some employees dropped by $150 a week. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Members from the Liberal Party are interjecting because they support lower wages. That was the Liberal Party’s policy when it was last in government: a minimum wage that was $50 a week lower than anywhere else in Australia. People working in this building had their wages cut - not eroded - because they were employed on workplace agreements that were put in place by the last Liberal Government. The Western Australian Liberals have a track record. They believe in lower wages and in removing basic conditions that look after workers and their families. Ian Macfarlane has provided the absolute truth of the Howard government’s extreme proposed changes to industrial relations; namely, lowering wages, reducing conditions and creating job insecurity. It has no vision for this nation.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the member for Dawesville agree with him? Ian Macfarlane said that we have to ensure that industrial relations reforms continue so that we have the labour prices of New Zealand. The minimum wage in Australia is approximately $12.75 an hour. The New Zealand minimum wage is AU$8.75 an hour. Deregulation in New Zealand has resulted in lower productivity and output and lower investment than that of Australia because it has not looked at growing its labour market and making sure that it has high productivity and decent wages. It is now trying to work its way out of that situation. The Prime Minister and the federal government are attempting to lower Australian wages and to take us down the New Zealand path. Clearly, that is what the federal minister was talking about. The approach of the Howard Liberal government is about deregulation and lowering wages. It wants us to travel down the same path as New Zealand, which would result in a range of problems that we do not have in Australia. We have high productivity, a huge growth in exports and an economy that is powering ahead on the basis of our providing decent wages. The Howard government has a different view, and that view was clearly reflected in what Ian Macfarlane is reported to have said in the media today and yesterday. The federal government’s rhetoric, however, is very different. Its rhetoric is about more jobs. We know that it is just rhetoric because that is what it was in Western Australia under the last Liberal Government when there was talk about more choice and flexibility and of no-one’s wages being lowered. We know that that meant that the minimum wage in Western Australia was $50 a week lower than in the rest of Australia. It also meant that the wages of some employees dropped by $150 a week. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Members from the Liberal Party are interjecting because they support lower wages. That was the Liberal Party’s policy when it was last in government: a minimum wage that was $50 a week lower than anywhere else in Australia. People working in this building had their wages cut - not eroded - because they were employed on workplace agreements that were put in place by the last Liberal Government. The Western Australian Liberals have a track record. They believe in lower wages and in removing basic conditions that look after workers and their families. Ian Macfarlane has provided the absolute truth of the Howard government’s extreme proposed changes to industrial relations; namely, lowering wages, reducing conditions and creating job insecurity. It has no vision for this nation.
Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Members from the Liberal Party are interjecting because they support lower wages. That was the Liberal Party’s policy when it was last in government: a minimum wage that was $50 a week lower than anywhere else in Australia. People working in this building had their wages cut - not eroded - because they were employed on workplace agreements that were put in place by the last Liberal Government. The Western Australian Liberals have a track record. They believe in lower wages and in removing basic conditions that look after workers and their families. Ian Macfarlane has provided the absolute truth of the Howard government’s extreme proposed changes to industrial relations; namely, lowering wages, reducing conditions and creating job insecurity. It has no vision for this nation.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Members from the Liberal Party are interjecting because they support lower wages. That was the Liberal Party’s policy when it was last in government: a minimum wage that was $50 a week lower than anywhere else in Australia. People working in this building had their wages cut - not eroded - because they were employed on workplace agreements that were put in place by the last Liberal Government. The Western Australian Liberals have a track record. They believe in lower wages and in removing basic conditions that look after workers and their families. Ian Macfarlane has provided the absolute truth of the Howard government’s extreme proposed changes to industrial relations; namely, lowering wages, reducing conditions and creating job insecurity. It has no vision for this nation.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: It was very interesting that Ian Macfarlane, the national Minister - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the member for Dawesville agree with him? Ian Macfarlane said that we have to ensure that industrial relations reforms continue so that we have the labour prices of New Zealand. The minimum wage in Australia is approximately $12.75 an hour. The New Zealand minimum wage is AU$8.75 an hour. Deregulation in New Zealand has resulted in lower productivity and output and lower investment than that of Australia because it has not looked at growing its labour market and making sure that it has high productivity and decent wages. It is now trying to work its way out of that situation. The Prime Minister and the federal government are attempting to lower Australian wages and to take us down the New Zealand path. Clearly, that is what the federal minister was talking about. The approach of the Howard Liberal government is about deregulation and lowering wages. It wants us to travel down the same path as New Zealand, which would result in a range of problems that we do not have in Australia. We have high productivity, a huge growth in exports and an economy that is powering ahead on the basis of our providing decent wages. The Howard government has a different view, and that view was clearly reflected in what Ian Macfarlane is reported to have said in the media today and yesterday. The federal government’s rhetoric, however, is very different. Its rhetoric is about more jobs. We know that it is just rhetoric because that is what it was in Western Australia under the last Liberal Government when there was talk about more choice and flexibility and of no-one’s wages being lowered. We know that that meant that the minimum wage in Western Australia was $50 a week lower than in the rest of Australia. It also meant that the wages of some employees dropped by $150 a week. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Members from the Liberal Party are interjecting because they support lower wages. That was the Liberal Party’s policy when it was last in government: a minimum wage that was $50 a week lower than anywhere else in Australia. People working in this building had their wages cut - not eroded - because they were employed on workplace agreements that were put in place by the last Liberal Government. The Western Australian Liberals have a track record. They believe in lower wages and in removing basic conditions that look after workers and their families. Ian Macfarlane has provided the absolute truth of the Howard government’s extreme proposed changes to industrial relations; namely, lowering wages, reducing conditions and creating job insecurity. It has no vision for this nation.
It was very interesting that Ian Macfarlane, the national Minister - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the member for Dawesville agree with him? Ian Macfarlane said that we have to ensure that industrial relations reforms continue so that we have the labour prices of New Zealand. The minimum wage in Australia is approximately $12.75 an hour. The New Zealand minimum wage is AU$8.75 an hour. Deregulation in New Zealand has resulted in lower productivity and output and lower investment than that of Australia because it has not looked at growing its labour market and making sure that it has high productivity and decent wages. It is now trying to work its way out of that situation. The Prime Minister and the federal government are attempting to lower Australian wages and to take us down the New Zealand path. Clearly, that is what the federal minister was talking about. The approach of the Howard Liberal government is about deregulation and lowering wages. It wants us to travel down the same path as New Zealand, which would result in a range of problems that we do not have in Australia. We have high productivity, a huge growth in exports and an economy that is powering ahead on the basis of our providing decent wages. The Howard government has a different view, and that view was clearly reflected in what Ian Macfarlane is reported to have said in the media today and yesterday. The federal government’s rhetoric, however, is very different. Its rhetoric is about more jobs. We know that it is just rhetoric because that is what it was in Western Australia under the last Liberal Government when there was talk about more choice and flexibility and of no-one’s wages being lowered. We know that that meant that the minimum wage in Western Australia was $50 a week lower than in the rest of Australia. It also meant that the wages of some employees dropped by $150 a week. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Members from the Liberal Party are interjecting because they support lower wages. That was the Liberal Party’s policy when it was last in government: a minimum wage that was $50 a week lower than anywhere else in Australia. People working in this building had their wages cut - not eroded - because they were employed on workplace agreements that were put in place by the last Liberal Government. The Western Australian Liberals have a track record. They believe in lower wages and in removing basic conditions that look after workers and their families. Ian Macfarlane has provided the absolute truth of the Howard government’s extreme proposed changes to industrial relations; namely, lowering wages, reducing conditions and creating job insecurity. It has no vision for this nation.
Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the member for Dawesville agree with him? Ian Macfarlane said that we have to ensure that industrial relations reforms continue so that we have the labour prices of New Zealand. The minimum wage in Australia is approximately $12.75 an hour. The New Zealand minimum wage is AU$8.75 an hour. Deregulation in New Zealand has resulted in lower productivity and output and lower investment than that of Australia because it has not looked at growing its labour market and making sure that it has high productivity and decent wages. It is now trying to work its way out of that situation. The Prime Minister and the federal government are attempting to lower Australian wages and to take us down the New Zealand path. Clearly, that is what the federal minister was talking about. The approach of the Howard Liberal government is about deregulation and lowering wages. It wants us to travel down the same path as New Zealand, which would result in a range of problems that we do not have in Australia. We have high productivity, a huge growth in exports and an economy that is powering ahead on the basis of our providing decent wages. The Howard government has a different view, and that view was clearly reflected in what Ian Macfarlane is reported to have said in the media today and yesterday. The federal government’s rhetoric, however, is very different. Its rhetoric is about more jobs. We know that it is just rhetoric because that is what it was in Western Australia under the last Liberal Government when there was talk about more choice and flexibility and of no-one’s wages being lowered. We know that that meant that the minimum wage in Western Australia was $50 a week lower than in the rest of Australia. It also meant that the wages of some employees dropped by $150 a week. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Members from the Liberal Party are interjecting because they support lower wages. That was the Liberal Party’s policy when it was last in government: a minimum wage that was $50 a week lower than anywhere else in Australia. People working in this building had their wages cut - not eroded - because they were employed on workplace agreements that were put in place by the last Liberal Government. The Western Australian Liberals have a track record. They believe in lower wages and in removing basic conditions that look after workers and their families. Ian Macfarlane has provided the absolute truth of the Howard government’s extreme proposed changes to industrial relations; namely, lowering wages, reducing conditions and creating job insecurity. It has no vision for this nation.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the member for Dawesville agree with him? Ian Macfarlane said that we have to ensure that industrial relations reforms continue so that we have the labour prices of New Zealand. The minimum wage in Australia is approximately $12.75 an hour. The New Zealand minimum wage is AU$8.75 an hour. Deregulation in New Zealand has resulted in lower productivity and output and lower investment than that of Australia because it has not looked at growing its labour market and making sure that it has high productivity and decent wages. It is now trying to work its way out of that situation. The Prime Minister and the federal government are attempting to lower Australian wages and to take us down the New Zealand path. Clearly, that is what the federal minister was talking about. The approach of the Howard Liberal government is about deregulation and lowering wages. It wants us to travel down the same path as New Zealand, which would result in a range of problems that we do not have in Australia. We have high productivity, a huge growth in exports and an economy that is powering ahead on the basis of our providing decent wages. The Howard government has a different view, and that view was clearly reflected in what Ian Macfarlane is reported to have said in the media today and yesterday. The federal government’s rhetoric, however, is very different. Its rhetoric is about more jobs. We know that it is just rhetoric because that is what it was in Western Australia under the last Liberal Government when there was talk about more choice and flexibility and of no-one’s wages being lowered. We know that that meant that the minimum wage in Western Australia was $50 a week lower than in the rest of Australia. It also meant that the wages of some employees dropped by $150 a week. Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Members from the Liberal Party are interjecting because they support lower wages. That was the Liberal Party’s policy when it was last in government: a minimum wage that was $50 a week lower than anywhere else in Australia. People working in this building had their wages cut - not eroded - because they were employed on workplace agreements that were put in place by the last Liberal Government. The Western Australian Liberals have a track record. They believe in lower wages and in removing basic conditions that look after workers and their families. Ian Macfarlane has provided the absolute truth of the Howard government’s extreme proposed changes to industrial relations; namely, lowering wages, reducing conditions and creating job insecurity. It has no vision for this nation.
Several opposition members interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Members from the Liberal Party are interjecting because they support lower wages. That was the Liberal Party’s policy when it was last in government: a minimum wage that was $50 a week lower than anywhere else in Australia. People working in this building had their wages cut - not eroded - because they were employed on workplace agreements that were put in place by the last Liberal Government. The Western Australian Liberals have a track record. They believe in lower wages and in removing basic conditions that look after workers and their families. Ian Macfarlane has provided the absolute truth of the Howard government’s extreme proposed changes to industrial relations; namely, lowering wages, reducing conditions and creating job insecurity. It has no vision for this nation.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Members from the Liberal Party are interjecting because they support lower wages. That was the Liberal Party’s policy when it was last in government: a minimum wage that was $50 a week lower than anywhere else in Australia. People working in this building had their wages cut - not eroded - because they were employed on workplace agreements that were put in place by the last Liberal Government. The Western Australian Liberals have a track record. They believe in lower wages and in removing basic conditions that look after workers and their families. Ian Macfarlane has provided the absolute truth of the Howard government’s extreme proposed changes to industrial relations; namely, lowering wages, reducing conditions and creating job insecurity. It has no vision for this nation.
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