Govt MP sheds tears during question time

A government backbencher has been reduced to tears in parliament with Labor continuing to question her suggestion penalty rate cuts are a "gift".

Ann Sudmalis said last week's Fair Work Commission ruling on Sunday and public holiday rates would open the door for more hours of employment.

"And in a regional area like Gilmore (on the NSW south coast), that's a gift," she told the Illawarra Mercury.

"That is a gift for our young people to get a foot in the door of employment."

Those comments have been the subject of several questions from the opposition in parliament this week.

And during another in question time on Wednesday, Ms Sudmalis shed some tears.

"Why does the prime minister and the Member for Gilmore support cutting penalty rates of Australians?" Labor frontbencher Stephen Jones asked.