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

I am regrettably aware of some criticisms. Labor and the ACTU, however, have received no support for their criticisms of the coalition's package since we released that policy in May 2013. But now, they are still trying to demonise individual flexibility arrangements, accusing the coalition of wanting to 'strip protections for workers on individual contracts' even though the current system does not have statutory individual contracts, and we aren't introducing them.

The opposition employment spokesman, Brendan O'Connor, has even entered Alice in Wonderland looking-glass world only last week asserting that 'They—that is the government—introduced what is called an individual flexibility arrangement.' Mr President, Labor introduced individual flexibility arrangements in its Fair Work Act, and the union movement specifically campaigned for it. (Time expired)