Linda Kirk (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Abetz, the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Is the minister aware of government funded advertisements promoting collective bargaining for small business? Don’t these advertisements highlight the benefit of small businesses joining together to negotiate, and the efficiency of negotiating with a group rather than individually? Doesn’t the 36-page glossy brochure on collective bargaining for small business state:

... one of the biggest concerns for small businesses is there comparative disadvantage when it comes to negotiating with big business.

Can the minister explain why none of the government’s Work Choices advertising promotes any of the advantages of collective bargaining for working Australians? Why does the government happily promote collective bargaining for small business but refuse to do the same for working Australians?