Lateline has screened a video of Health Minister Tony Abbott admitting that "certain protections, in inverted commas, are not what they were, I accept that that has largely gone. I accept that." Mr Abbott was referring to the Federal Goverment's Workchoices legislation.
According to Abbott finding alternative employment is a better option than invoking workplace laws for disgruntled workers. "That is the best protection. Not going off to some judge, or industrial commission, that might order your employer, who you don't like, and he doesn't like you, to keep you in an unhappy partnership forever," he said.
Abbott defended his comments on Lateline, saying the best protection for workers is a strong labour market that offers choice of employment.