Liberal candidate’s comment on $10 per hour wages raise Labor eyebrows

Labor has alleged a weak support for minimum wage rates after ‘concerning’ comments by a Liberal candidate about piece rates for fruit pickers. Inside the fruit-throwing between the two camps.

Anne Urquhart and Mal Hingston thumbnail

Comments by Liberal candidate Mal Hingston about piece rates for fruit pickers showed the federal Coalition’s weak support for minimum wage rates, Labor says.

The major parties traded blows on Saturday, with the Liberals accusing Mr Hingston’s opponent Anne Urquhart of seeking to re-enter the Senate if her lower house bid fails.

Mr Hingston — whose ownership of eleven houses, an aircraft and a boat have undermined his everyman image — made the comments at a Burnie Chamber of Commerce and Industry function on April 23.

“We inadvertently killed off the grey nomads … because they used to come down here, they’d spend their winters up in Bowen picking mangoes and then come down here to Tassie and just plod along and they were happy with $10 an hour or whatever it was, because it was a social outing for them and they’d pick some fruit and veggies and they’re getting their pensions and they didn’t care about the low hourly rate,” he said.

Liberal candidate for Braddon Mal Hingston with his boat at Mood Food Latrobe. He says Easter will be a cheaper holiday under a coalition government. Picture: Elise Kaine

“Now they don’t want to go fruit picking anymore – they don’t want to get employed for fruit picking because they don’t want to have to work that hard to justify minimum wage, and it comes back to the old unintended consequences thing …”

Minister for Workplace Relations Murray Watt said Mr Hingston’s lack of support for the minimum wage was a concern.

“It’s nothing short of outrageous that the Liberal candidate for Braddon wants grey nomads to work for ten dollars an hour,” he said.

“That’s less than half the minimum wage.

“These comments just show the true colours of the Coalition when it comes to your wages.

“They say one thing in public before an election, but in private they let their guard down and tell the truth about how their plan to cut your pay and conditions after the election.”

Mr Hingston rejected Mr Watt’s characterisation.

“This is truly pathetic, everyone knows Labor makes things up, but this takes the cake,” he said.

Liberal Party candidate For Braddon Mal Hingston in Ulverstone Tasmania. The Coalition announced $550,000 for Ulverstone Marine Rescue Facility Upgrade. picture: supplied

At the same time, Liberal Senator Jonno Duniam called on Labor’s candidate in Braddon Anne Urquhart, to scotch rumours she might be “double dipping” from the taxpayer purse by taking both a $117,000 resettlement allowance and returning to the Senate should she be unsuccessful in Braddon.

“It is widely rumoured that Ms Urquhart has been promised her old Senate seat back by the Prime Minister if she is unsuccessful, which could easily be achieved by her nominating for the casual Senate vacancy her own resignation has created,” Senator Duniam said.

“It is also widely rumoured that Ms Urquhart has even offered some of her former Senate staff their old jobs back.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces Anne Urquhart to run in Braddon for upcoming Federal Election at Devonport on November 12, 2024. Also pictured, Labor MP Julie Collins. Picture: Simon McGuire

Ms Urquhart has already explained she is ineligible for the payout — which is reserved for sitting members who lose preselection or a re-election bid. She resigned from parliament in March.

A Labor spokesman described the allowance claims as “a smear” and said Ms Urquhart was focused solely on becoming the next member for Braddon.

Originally published as Liberal candidate’s comment on $10 per hour wages raise Labor eyebrows