Mr IAN MACFARLANE —My question is addressed to the Minister for Employment Services. Has the minister seen reports of continuing union opposition to the Work for the Dole Scheme? What role did the trade union movement have in previous labour market programs?

Mr SPEAKER —Before I call the Minister for Employment Services, this question was canvassed yesterday in almost precisely the same terms. I will allow the question to stand, assuming that the minister has some comments to make on changes that have occurred within the last 24 hours.

Honourable members interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —I will not tolerate this persistent level of interjection, as everyone knows. The Minister for Employment Services.

Mr ABBOTT (Employment Services) —Thank you Mr Speaker. I thank the member for Groom for his question. Yesterday on Sydney radio, Michael Costa, who is the head of the New South Wales Labor Council, described Work for the Dole as a mickey mouse program. Funnily enough, this is the same term that has been used against the Work for the Dole program by both the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Batman. Mr Costa also called for a return to the labour market programs of the former government, which again is just like the union echoes opposite.

The question then arises: why might the unions and their supporters be so intent on restoring these programs? Under the labour market programs of the former government, large amounts of money were given to employ training liaison officers—in other words, taxpayer funded jobs for the boys within the union movement.

Mr Beazley —Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. This does not sound like the last 24 hours to me.

Mr SPEAKER —The Leader of the Opposition will be aware of the fact that I had put that condition on the minister's reply and he had indicated that he was responding to an interview that was held yesterday.

Mr ABBOTT —I was also asked: what role did the trade union movement have in previous labour market programs? Between 1992 and 1996, when the House of Lords opposite was in charge of the employment portfolio, $1.7 million was given to the unions to employ these liaison officers and $238,000 was given to the—

Mr Beazley —Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order on relevance to your ruling on the restrictions on this minister. I would argue that these details were well known prior to 24 hours ago and could have featured in his answer yesterday.

Mr SPEAKER —I am allowing the minister to continue because he is responding to a statement that was made yesterday.

Mr ABBOTT —I was asked what role did the trade union movement have in previous labour market programs. $165,000 was given to the ACTU, and I wonder whether the former minister, the member for Hotham, declared a conflict of interest then.

Opposition members interjecting—'

Mr ABBOTT —$265,000 was given to the Australian Workers Union, which has just parachuted Ludwig Junior into the Senate to create another great Labor union dynasty.

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —Order! The minister—

Mr ABBOTT —I am answering the question.

Mr SPEAKER —The minister will continue, but I expect him to come back to the point of the interview that was heard on radio yesterday.

Mr ABBOTT —So we can understand why Mr Costa called for a return of these labour market programs, because under them $140,000 was given to the Australian Metal Workers Union—

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —Order! The minister—

Mr ABBOTT —The union is currently employing Andrew Scott to urge the Leader of the Opposition of the imperative to go to the left.

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —Order! The minister is now drawing too long a bow and will resume his seat.