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

We are proposing to remove part 4 of the Independent Contractors Bill which would have established a minimum remuneration guarantee for independent contractor textile, clothing and footwear outworkers in the absence of any state or territory law setting a minimum level of remuneration. This proposed part would also have established a record-keeping regime, under which a person who engages a contractor TCF outworker must keep certain documentation relating to pay. These provisions had been modelled on existing protections in part 22 of the Workplace Relations Act, which provide a minimum rate of pay for contracted TCF outworkers in Victoria. It was intended that this proposed part of the Independent Contractors Bill would guarantee a minimum level of wage protection for outworkers not entitled to a similar protection under a state or territory law.

However, during Legislation of the Senate Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee inquiry into the provisions of this bill it became apparent that the existing state and territory protections were comprehensive in this regard and that it was unlikely that the proposed remuneration guarantee would be relied upon to set the rate of pay for any TCF outworker. The government, therefore, considers that it is preferable to remove this proposed protection and repeal part 22, as neither had any practical application. This will reduce the regulatory burden on all players within the textile, clothing and footwear industry.

I also indicate to the chamber that this amendment has been agreed with representatives of FairWear, of the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia and of the Victorian government. It also implements one of the unanimous recommendations made by the Senate committee that inquired into the provisions of this bill.