Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Corporate Governance and Responsibility) Share this | Hansard source

So they are a separate legal entity to the Commonwealth—a statutory authority. So do I understand the government’s position to be that as part of the agreement the Commonwealth may, for other legal reasons, be bound, but any employer entering into a 16(3)(c) arrangement under this legislation is not bound to comply with that under the terms of this legislation? There have been two or three answers on this front. First it was: ‘Oh, it’s the general duty of care.’ Second it was: ‘It’s the Commonwealth.’ And third was your original thing, which was: ‘We seek arrangements not formal agreements.’