Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the members for Makin, Farrer, Dawson and the member for Capricornia for their contributions. I particularly want to acknowledge the member for Capricornia, who has been a very long-standing advocate in this place for the rights of mining workers and represents a number of such people in her electorate. I thank her for bringing the attention of the House to the particular case. It makes it a very real example as to why this bill is necessary. The bill gives effect to proposals developed by an industry working party to reform portable long service leave arrangements in the black coal mining industry. I commend the industry and employee participants on their collaborative approach and their commitment to the future success of the black coal mining industry long service leave scheme. As the minister said at the commencement of this debate, the government is happy to propose these amendments which will benefit both employers and employees in the black coal mining industry. I commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Ordered that this bill be reported to the House without amendment.

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