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

The Prime Minister has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) The government was advised around 2pm on Saturday 30th October that Qantas was grounding its fleet at 5pm in preparation for a lockout.

(2) See the response to question (1).

(3) Mr Joyce did not make a request to speak to me about these matters.

(4) The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) was not asked to provide advice prior to the announcement of the Government's intention to apply to Fair Work Australia (FWA) to terminate all industrial action at Qantas under section 424 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act).

(5) See the response to question (4).

(6) This issue has been addressed in public statements by the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, and the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations.

(7) See the response to question (6).

(8) See the response to question (6).

(9) The Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations made an urgent application to Fair Work Australia on 30 October 2011.

(10) See the transcript of the press conference held by Minister for Infrastructure and Transport on 29 October 2011 and the media release issued by the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations on 29 October 2011.

(11) PM&C did not brief the government's legal representation in the case before FWA. This question would be better directed to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).

(12) The Prime Minister was regularly updated on the industrial action involving Qantas and its unions.

(13) The Prime Minister received a range of correspondence from constituents, industry groups, unions and State premiers expressing concern about the Qantas dispute prior to 29 October 2011. A number of these letters and emails called on the Government to take action with respect to the dispute. The Prime Minister considered these concerns but in general did not provide a formal response.

(14) See the responses to questions (4) and (16).

(15) The FW Act allows employers to take industrial action in response to industrial action by employees it is bargaining with provided that the requirements of Part 3-3 of the FW Act are met.

(16) The Prime Minister expressed her concern about the Qantas dispute in media interviews prior to 29 October 2011. The Prime Minister was regularly updated about the dispute and maintained contact with relevant ministers.