Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

The government is of the view that it complied with the obligations under the Intergovernmental Agreement for a National Workplace Relations System for the Private Sector. The government was concerned to introduce the bill as a matter of urgency to ensure that appropriate protections were in place as soon as possible for affected employees transitioning into the national system. On 21 September Minister Shorten wrote to state and territory ministers and members of the National Workplace Relations Consultative Council advising them of the government's proposal to amend the Fair Work Act to extend transfer of business protections and invited their views. On 2 October departmental officials met with state and territory officers, excluding the ACT, which was unable to attend. On 3 October departmental officers met with representatives of the ACTU, Ai Group and ACCI. On 15 October departmental officers met with officers from Fair Work Australia and the Fair Work Ombudsman.

ACCI, Ai Group, the BCA, Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales have written to the minister on various dates expressing opposition to the bill and concerns about consultation. On 15 November Minister Shorten wrote to his state and territory counterparts advising that the Australian government intended to move government amendments to the bill. On 16 November draft provisions were circulated to senior state and territory officials for comment by 19 November. Only New South Wales and Victoria have responded to that invitation to date and, amongst other things, New South Wales reiterated strong concerns about lack of consultation on the issue of importance to the states, but Victoria did not express any concerns at the departmental level.