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

I thank Senator Gallacher for his question. The government is aware of media reports about working conditions for certain workers at Sydney Airport. As Senator Gallacher has articulated, these workers are engaged under an enterprise agreement between employers and their employer, Aerocare. In other words, they have gone through the negotiating process for the agreement, and they have agreed to the agreement and it has been approved by the Fair Work Commission—it has been approved by the independent Fair Work Commission. I also understand, though, that Aero Care is currently negotiating a new enterprise agreement, and I understand that the Transport Workers Union and the Australian Services Union are themselves now seeking to cover workers in this agreement.

Any worker concerned that the terms that have been negotiated in their enterprise agreement, which has been approved by the independent Fair Work Commission, are not being followed should raise their concerns with the Fair Work Ombudsman, which can then obviously investigate the matter. I am also informed that both Aerocare and the Fair Work Ombudsman are investigating the matters that have been raised in the media reports and considering whether further action is now needed. Again I would say that they are employed under an enterprise agreement that has been agreed between the employees and the employer, but at this point in time they are in the middle of negotiating a new enterprise agreement under which two unions—the Transport Workers Union and the Australian Services Union—are seeking to cover the workers in the agreement.