Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Furner for his supplementary question. What this government is committed to is getting the balance right in the workplace and providing fairness and flexibility to workers and their employers. We have a keen interest in making sure that awards are complied with and that dodgy employers do not get away with underpaying employees. We will strike the balance by ensuring very strict requirements on the use of any documents obtained by a permit holder—that is, a person who is entitled to inspect those records or who is investigating the breach of the award or the law. Privacy Act requirements apply and any misuse results in a significant fine and the cancellation of the permit. This means that the permit holder can only investigate documents directly relevant to investigating a breach of the law. Unions have had a longstanding role in investigating suspected breaches of awards and agreements and in taking recovery action to make sure that employees are paid correctly. The new framework does get the balance right between those rights. (Time expired)