Senator Eric Abetz

"In March 2008 Prime Minister Rudd stood up in the Australian Parliament and categorically stated that NO Working families in this country will be worse off as a consequence of Labor's new industrial laws."

"Today on the Neil Mitchell program in Melbourne, Mr Rudd said "I am not going to be in a position now nor will we be then to say that in each individual circumstance there won't be some variation".

"Labor's hypocrisy is breathtaking. How can Mr Rudd and Ms Gillard explain to 17 year old Mathew Spencer in Victoria how he is better off under Labor's new laws which has resulted in him being sacked from his part time job after school?"

"Mathew Spencer is just one of thousands of young Australians who are being penalised by Labor's so called Modern Awards. Mathew has now lost his job because Julia Gillard says he can't be employed for less than 3 hours."

"Just two weeks ago Kevin Rudd was urging Australians to work longer and harder, now it appears that because of Labor's new laws hundreds of young Australians like Mathew can't work at all."

"Can Mr Rudd and Ms Gillard explain to the Australian people why Labor is forcing young Australians like Mathew Spencer out of work rather than encouraging them to keep working?"

"Mathew Spencer should be commended for his commitment to entering the workforce and contributing to the Nation's productivity, not condemned by Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard."