Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

This is the continuation of the committee stage of the Fair Work Amendment Bill, and last night I was asking whether the government could provide us with an estimate of the costs associated with the proposed name change. The Senate committee inquiring into this was told a week ago the question would be taken on notice. We were told last night the question would be taken on notice, and I am wondering if the government now might actually have a defined figure to provide to us, rather than the rubbery explanation we have continually been provided.

Further, I asked the parliamentary secretary if the appointment of two new vice-presidents is going to cost Fair Work Australia $1.5 million or thereabouts per annum; if the name change is going to incur a cost; and, if all those costs are going to be absorbed by Fair Work Australia, what areas of Fair Work Australia's current activities will be curtailed for the extravagance of appointing these two new positions and for the this non-name change?