Ms SWANSON(Paterson) (13:58): Last month, the government's brutal choice to strip one in six workers in my electorate of Paterson of their penalty rates began: 11,722 workers will lose up to 650 per week. That's right-650 would go in this room? Not very far.
The SPEAKER:The member for Paterson can't ask me questions in a 90-second statement!
Ms SWANSON:I am enraged that the tenuous one-seat margin that allowed this gormless government to inflict damage on the people of my electorate is in doubt. Doubts about the Deputy Prime Minister's constitutional qualifications bring into question the validity of every bill this lame government has brought down. Every bill that the member for New Zealand-or is it New England?-
The SPEAKER:The member for Paterson's time has concluded. She is oblivious that her microphone has been off for 15 seconds. I say to members of this chamber, without appearing highly critical: we have some of the best microphones in Australia. They work extremely well. There's no need to shout. In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.
