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Posted: 2017-03-01 05:49:39

Time for me to head off so I'm handing over to my colleague Tom McIlroy.

Thanks for your company today.

I'll see you in the morning. Don't forget we can chat on Facebook.

The government is also not happy about penalty rates - but for a different reason than Ms Sudmalis.

You can catch up on the issue in this video.

ScoMo dodges questions

The Treasurer has been grilled about what he thinks the outcome of a cut in penalty rates will be, refusing to give his opinion.

"There are some people who are very dependent on those penalty rates, and I get that and I understand that, but there are some others who might be able to pick up an extra day," Ms Sudmalis said.

"There'll be opportunities for more people to get more work, rather than just people losing part of what they believe is 'I'm working on a Sunday, I should get paid more'." 
 

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A bit more on Ann Sudmalis's comments.

Ms Sudmalis, who holds the NSW seat of Gilmore, told her local paper yesterday that cutting Sunday and public holiday penalty rates are "not cutting wages" but rather "opening the door" on more jobs

"It's not cutting wages, it's opening the door for more hours of employment and in a regional area like Gilmore, with almost double the national youth unemployment, that's a gift; that is a gift for our young people to get a foot in the door of employment," Ms Sudmalis told the Illawarra Mercury.

Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis during question time on Wednesday.
Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis during question time on Wednesday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

And that's it for question time.

For the third day in a row every opposition question was on penalty rates.

The opposition repeatedly referred to Ms Sudmalis's comments during question time yesterday and today is heckling the Liberal MP.

It's a tough game, for sure. Still, making someone cry is never a good look.

Ann Sudmalis during question time on Wednesday.
Ann Sudmalis during question time on Wednesday. Photo: Andrew Meares

Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis is copping a lot of flak from the opposition over comments she made to a local newspaper in which she said the penalty rates decision was a "gift" in an area like hers with high youth unemployment (because lower wages would mean businesses could employ more people).

It's getting to her.

Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis during question time on Wednesday.
Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis during question time on Wednesday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Dad and Mum aren't getting along again.

Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne and Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop during question time on Wednesday.
Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne and Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop during question time on Wednesday. Photo: Andrew Meares
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Veterans Affairs Minister Dan Tehan has told the house that a Defence Signals Directorate facility and Canberra Airport had to rely on back-up generators during the load shedding that took place on February 10.

Eek.

"It is their judgement," Mr Turnbull says of whose responsibility the penalty rates decision is.

That would be the commission, not the government.

Poker face.

Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne during question time on Wednesday.
Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne during question time on Wednesday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

When the Speaker says you're testing his patience.

Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne in  question time on Wednesday.
Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne in question time on Wednesday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

The opposition tries again.

Same answer - more or less - in that it's not an answer.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott during question time on Wednesday.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott during question time on Wednesday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
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The opposition's workplace relations' spokesman, Brendan O'Connor, wants to know how many members of the government will profit from the penalty rates decision (by being business owners or having shares in businesses that would benefit).

Mr Turnbull answers as he has before.

(The government is going to have to do better than this if it wants to win the 'feels' of this debate.)

Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten during question time on Wednesday.
Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten during question time on Wednesday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Shorten would like a 'yes' or 'no' answer on whether Mr Turnbull will intervene on penalty rates.

Mr Turnbull chooses to read out some historical statements of Mr Shorten.

It's better than simply saying 'no'.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during question time on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during question time on Wednesday. Photo: Andrew Meares

Treasurer Scott Morrison is making the case that any change in penalty rates has nothing to do with the government.

"The only organisation that has been looking at penalty rates has been the Fair Work Commission and the only person that has asked them to do so is the Leader of the Opposition," Mr Morrison says.

"The Fair Work Commission has made a decision, not the government."

Mr Turnbull takes a question from his own side about the latest economic figures.

"This is a very good outcome for Australian families, for Australian business and for jobs," Mr Turnbull says.

"It is a tribute to the leadership of my government...None of this has happened by luck. It's the result of prudent economic management and strong leadership."

Nationals MP George Christensen during question time on Wednesday.
Nationals MP George Christensen during question time on Wednesday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Question time begins as it has each day this week - with penalty rates.

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