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

What has occurred is that two parties have entered into an agreement voluntarily. It is submitted to the Workplace Authority for its extra consideration—all, might I add, geared for the protection of the employee. So, even if the Workplace Authority Director thinks this is completely unfair to the employer, that will not be something that will be able to exercise his or her mind. The only thing that can exercise his or her mind is whether it is unfair to the employee. In those circumstances, albeit the employee has signed up voluntarily, the Workplace Authority Director would then be in touch with both sides to say, ‘This legally binding agreement that you wanted can be made legally binding by overcoming certain deficiencies’—and then certain suggestions are made—‘and if they are acceptable to the employer then we have an agreement.’