Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

Exactly what I am reading out is what I said in my previous contribution. You are so anti anything that I personally say or that the government might contribute that you do not listen to the actual provisions of this bill. Let me repeat for the benefit of Senator Wong: the bill already requires that the employer has available for inspection an up-to-date list of designated work groups’ health and safety representatives. The lists must be available for inspection by employees and investigators at all reasonable times. What was being suggested by Senator Murray’s amendment was a special role for the trade unions. We do not believe that that is warranted, given the open-ended nature of these provisions.

The honourable senator opposite, Senator Wong, has continually referred to us as somehow being anti union. The simple fact is that the majority of workers in Commonwealth employ have decided for themselves not to be members of a trade union. It therefore stands to reason to those of us that want to look after the workers, both union and non-union, that there be some capacity for the non-union members to be represented as well. That is why we have a provision in the terms I have just read out that is available to all employees.

Question negatived.