Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

As we head into December and then towards Christmas, I want to take this time this afternoon to highlight the issues the Australian Public Service is and has been facing under the Turnbull government. Since the election of the government, we have seen them attack a wide variety of Australians including low-income Australians and they have, in many senses, trashed sectors of our economy. For example, it is clear that when the Treasurer, in December 2013, goaded Holden to leave and Holden made the decision to leave, that really had a devastating impact on the car industry and, consequentially, adverse impacts on small and medium enterprises across the automotive parts sector.

This government want to increase the cost of living for every Australian family by broadening and increasing the GST to 15 per cent. They have engaged in a relentless war against job seekers and are asking those people now to live on absolutely nothing for a whole month. Until we defeated the earlier provision, they were seeking a change that would mean that young people would be deprived of any support whatsoever for six months before they could receive any income benefit. At the same time, they were not guaranteeing earning any jobs because, as we know, there are between 50,000 and 60,000 more Australians unemployed today than was the case when this government was elected. They have sought to stitch up families by getting rid of the family tax benefit for more than one million Australians while also cutting childcare assistance to a significant number of families.

When it comes to the Australian Public Service, the government has also continued this attack on job security and indeed on job conditions. The Abbott-Turnbull government's bargaining policy is leading to workers in the public service. You only have to look at what is happening at Border Force or Human Services to show that they are seeking to significantly cut their income. In the case of Border Force, what was put to them for them to support was an annual cut of up to $8,000. These are national security officers being asked to take a pay cut of $8,000. Is it any wonder that the agency chose not to support that and the workforce has been resisting this imposition by this very antiworker government?

Labor acknowledges there have been some agreements struck. In one case recently, this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reached an agreement. However, we strongly believe that the government has an obsession with axing jobs and cutting wages and conditions, which has not lead to a more effective workforce and I do not believe it is in the public interest. What Australia needs is an effective, well-run public service. We believe in public institutions and in the Public Service. We think that under this government, government departments and agencies are being left with nowhere to turn but to cut costs through cutting real wages and working conditions.

It is true to say the economy is in a very parlous state. We have the lowest wage growth in Australia for more than a quarter of a century but that is not a sufficient alibi for the government to use to be so harsh towards its own workforce. I think it is fair to say that you judge a government by the way it treats its own workforce and, indeed, it translates to how they would like to see businesses treat workers across the entire nation. Look at the government as an employer and you get a reasonable picture as to the way they would like things to be done.

We have had industrial action being taken across the country in response to this ideological assault by the Turnbull government. The Australian Public Service workers do not take the decision to strike lightly. These workers, as I said, in some cases are facing losses of up to $8,000. They also suffer the consequences of being stood down by taking this action, so they take a real risk, but are left with very few choices. It is not like Border Force officers want passengers to battle through queues to get their flights or Human Services workers want job seekers and people struggling to make ends meet to have to wait for support and be served at Centrelink offices and the like. They are taking this last resort, industrial action, for a reason, and I would contend it is because of this government's obsession with going after the Public Service at all costs.

The irony of course of the government's claims that it is slashing jobs, pay and conditions in the public service to cut costs should not be lost on anyone though. Just this weekend it was revealed that the money the Abbott and Turnbull governments is saving from job cuts has been cancelled-out by a massive increase in the costs of high-paid consultants and contractors. By way of contrast, last year the Commonwealth departments reduced wages, they say, by $109 million thanks to the sacking of thousands of public sector workers; however, the consultancy and contract costs have increased by $205 million—almost double the savings that were allegedly made by the government. You have to wonder how much influence the consultant firms and contractors have over the government's policy decisions.

I contend that the public service is more than capable of providing impartial, independent, robust advice, but not if the government continues to cut wages under the guise of cost-savings, and cut conditions to make people work longer and harder. As I said, you can tell a lot about this government by the way it treats its own workforce. It is not just me that thinks that; the former Secretary of the Treasury, Mr Ken Henry, has said the same about the resources that have been taken from the public sector. It has had a huge impact on advice and the effectiveness of governments to efficiently undertake the obligations they have to the people of Australia.

But Labor understands that successful employers know better. They understand that a business that employs good staff and has strong relationships built on trust works better. Strengthening workplace conditions does not appear to be the government's strong point but it is a very significant issue. That is why Labor has announced that it will provide, among other things, for five days paid domestic and family violence leave in the national employment standards.

We are still awaiting a response. I pay tribute to the Prime Minister for not responding adversely to that suggestion. Indeed, he has said that he is examining that option—as has the Minister for Social Services. Less supportive was the Assistant Treasurer. Nonetheless, the Prime Minister has said that he will examine that. We would ask him to consider it because, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in six Australian women have experienced physical or sexual violence from a current or former partner. The trauma of domestic and family violence is often compounded by workplace and financial uncertainty.

Domestic and family violence leave will benefit those who have experienced violence and businesses, through improved productivity, increased employee retention and reduced absenteeism. Consider the time required in courts, in meetings with lawyers, financial advisers, school principals and in counselling sessions for people who have experienced violence, which is required in the pursuit of safety and justice.

We want to acknowledge the very good employers who have been working proactively in this area: Telstra, National Australia Bank, Virgin Australia, Ikea and Blundstone. We would like to thank the union movement, which, on behalf of many workers, have been campaigning for this very significant issue. This can save hundreds of millions of dollars for employers and billions of dollars for our economy. So, it is not only the right thing to do; it is also an economically sound thing to do. I ask the government to seriously consider the option of supporting Labor's position with respect to a minimum of five days paid leave for such important circumstances, which none of us would want to see any woman confront.

Finally, on a separate matter, I am advised that members of the Korean public service and transport workers union have been arrested during legitimate protests in relation to union recognition and safe and decent conditions. Labor firmly believes employees have a fundamental, democratic right to representation in the workplace, to freedom of association, to bargain collectively, to organise and to be represented by their union.

Labor also believes workplace injuries are most often preventable. Industries, employers, trade unions and workers should be supported to reduce workplace risks, hazards and injuries and to achieve the highest possible standards of workplace safety. On the advice I have receive, I have concerns about the treatment of these workers in Korea. I question the arrests and I respectfully encourage the Korean authorities to further examine the basis of this decision and to take steps to release those innocent of any criminal conduct.

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