Phillip Barresi (Deakin, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Yesterday, the member for Perth came into the chamber asking questions regarding the Commonwealth Bank and was caught out once again when he failed to mention that, five years ago, the Financial Sector Union agreed, on behalf of its members, that a range of conditions could be exempted. This is the Commonwealth Bank of Australia Retail Banking Services enterprise bargaining agreement 2002, between the bank and the FSU. What does it say? It says:

12.2 Where an employee accepts an offer in terms of clause 12.1, he or she may be exempted from the provisions of the Award and EBA in relation to:

• rostered days off
• overtime and separate attendance
• meal allowance
• leave in lieu of travelling time
• on-call allowance
• telephone availability allowance
• higher duty allowance
• annual leave loading.

These are things which could have been negotiated away in a 2002 agreement between the union and the bank. He did not mention that when he came in yesterday. He reeled off his 46 items, which can also be negotiated away if someone enters into a new AWA with the bank. The member for Perth comes in here and makes his exaggerated claims.

We also found out today that for the 755 positions the Commonwealth Bank is offering in 65 locations where the branches will be open on Saturdays there were 2,300 applications. There are 2,300 people who are applying for Saturday jobs? Why are they doing that? Because the arrangements suit their particular conditions in balancing family and work. That is why they are going along. So when they talk about people voting with their feet— (Time expired)

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