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

I will deal with those questions in the best way I can in the order they were provided. I can at the outset say that the Greens have urged the government to submit the Fair Work Bill to the International Labour Organisation for advice as to whether it meets Australia’s international obligations. I can say that due consideration was given to Australia’s international commitments in developing the Fair Work Bill to ensure that the bill is compliant with Australia’s commitments under ratified ILO conventions.

A number of key criticisms of Work Choices that were made by the ILO supervisory body have been addressed within the proposed new system, which has been developed through exhaustive consultation. The ILO committee of experts has asked the Australian government—and the Greens may be aware of this—to provide a copy of the draft legislation. The government is considering the committee’s request and will respond shortly. I note that every year member states are required—