Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Hansard source

It is the prettiest one to date, and he was forgotten about in question time today!

In terms of how the provisions of this bill are going to help, rather than hinder, the dispute, the concerns the volunteers have raised, as you would be aware, are in relation to the agreement expanding into volunteer arrangements as opposed to dealing just with the employer-employee relationship, and that is beyond what was contemplated by the Fair Work Act. The bill provides much-needed clarity for the parties to the agreement and for the Fair Work Commission when it is looking at the agreement. The bill itself makes clear that designated emergency management terms—and, as you would be aware, they are defined terms within the bill—are unlawful terms that cannot be included in an enterprise agreement. The bill also makes clear that a recognised volunteer body has a right to be heard by the Fair Work Commission in relation to agreements that affect it. These clarifications will provide much-needed certainty to help ensure that the agreement is determined as swiftly as possible.