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13 December 1999

Regional Australia: Wages

Reports attributing to me a "plan to cut wages in the bush for the unemployed" are wrong.

I have advocated flexibility, subject to minima as prescribed by the relevant awards, in relation to productivity over-awards, working patterns and other matters allowed under the Government’s legislation.

I do not advocate different minima as between employed or unemployed. Nor do I advocate reducing wages for one part of Australia as opposed to another.

I advocate flexibility in wage fixing, subject to the prescribed minima, which if it is taken up and used could be of enormous benefit for new investment and new investment in regional areas to provide jobs for the unemployed.