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

In relation to other workplace relations type of legislation, there is the COIL process—the Committee on Industrial Legislation—where you have all the stakeholders. My approach in relation to workplace relations matters has, I believe, been a consultative one, and nothing will change in relation to that. As a result, employer and employee organisations et cetera will be fully consulted. We are hopeful that within the next few weeks there will be a round table with all the stakeholders to discuss the issues generally that they are concerned about. And then when we have a draft bill we will be circulating that to the stakeholders as well for them to undertake their assessment—a bit like the COIL process—so that any unintended consequences can be advised to us. And, if I might say, the COIL process on industrial legislation has been very helpful where technical issues—unintended consequences—have been highlighted by both employer and employee organisations, which is very helpful for government and also very helpful for good robust legislation. In an area such as this, I believe that that sort of certainty will be of great benefit, and that is why the government is anxious to ensure that full consultation takes place in, if you like, a preliminary or scoping manner. And then further consultation will be had in relation to the draft legislation so that by the time the legislation hits the parliament there will be at least a good understanding of the consequences and the issues that the bill seeks to address.