Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Regarding the second supple­mentary, the answer was in my primary response. Senator Collins is chairing a group of community service providers and state governments to work through all of those issues because we understand that we do not want to have a pay rise awarded which then cuts into the service provision available in the community. We do not want that to result in fewer jobs and fewer services. So we do have to work through those issues to make sure that pay equity for SACS workers does not undermine the capacity of the sector to deliver services.

In terms of the claim that we are not negotiating, let me put this on the record. The first supplementary of yours just did not make sense. I gave you the best answer I could. But, in terms of the suggestion we are not negotiating, firstly, I met with the union last night and I met with a lot of members of the Labor Party in the last few days; secondly, we are attending the conciliation hearing tomorrow before Fair Work Australia; and, thirdly, we are lodging the submission that was requested by Fair Work Australia in the next couple of weeks. Those processes are underway. (Time expired)