Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I wasn't intending to give a contribution to this important debate, but I received a letter today which made me think I should actually make sure that these views are put on record. I won't be taking up too much of the chamber's time, for I know it is short. It was a letter all Tasmanian senators received today from the Launceston Chamber of Commerce, and I think it is important to put this on record given the contents of the letter. I will read it out as I think it is important, and I am glad I have a couple of Tasmanian colleagues here to hear me do so. I'm sure they've received the letter, but let's give it voice in this debate, because they have been excluded from consultation on this important piece of legislation which will change the IR landscape in this country.

The letter received today at around lunchtime reads as follows: 'Dear Senator, The Launceston Chamber of Commerce is seriously concerned with the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022 (the bill) and the effect that it will have on business in Launceston and Northern Tasmania, particularly on our small and medium enterprises.

'In July this year, businesses were faced with increasing wage costs, increased super guarantee contributions and now surging electricity prices. Many businesses are still recovering from the dramatic effect of COVID-19, and currently there are very few industries that aren't facing the demands of doing business with staff shortages.

'With the cost of living increasing, it's expected that discretionary spending will drop and, as a consequence, many of our small and medium businesses will see a drop in revenue. The last thing businesses need is rushed new rules and more red tape.

'According to an article in the Australian Financial Review, the regulatory impact statement prepared by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations showed that small businesses can expect the bargaining process to cost them, on average, $14,638; medium businesses, $75,148; and large businesses, $94,311. These are costs that businesses may not be able to afford and may seriously jeopardise the future of businesses, particularly small and medium businesses in northern Tasmania.

'In addition to the above concerns, we're equally concerned with (1) the pace at which the bill has progressed through the parliament and (2) while we appreciate that amendments to the bill will see businesses with 15 staff or less excluded from the bill, it still means that small businesses with over 15 employees will be forced to adopt workplace arrangements and pay rates that they have had no role in negotiating. We also question the decision to use actual staffing numbers rather than FTEs.

'While we appreciate that the Australian government wants to pass the bill this year, this is an incredibly busy time for most businesses, and we believe it should be held off until the new parliamentary term.

'Above all, we're seriously concerned that business organisations such as the Launceston Chamber of Commerce were not consulted at all or engaged with during the drafting of this legislation. The Launceston Chamber of Commerce does not support the bill and joins the Australian Chamber of Commerce, the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other business chambers from around Australia in calling the Senate to split the bill to allow further time for careful examination of businesses' concerns. Failing this, we urge the Senate to oppose the bill.'

The letter was sent from Kate Daley, the president, and Will Cassidy, the executive officer. I think it is important to put those concerns on record, because, as I said, the fact that an entity like that has not been consulted in the drafting of the legislation to me is extremely concerning. The LCCI is one of the peak bodies in Tasmania. I know that Senator Brown and Senator Urquhart, one very fine southern Tasmanian senator and one very fine northern Tasmanian senator there—

A government senator: Northwestern!

Northwestern—I beg your pardon. You are quite right—not the parochialism of something that's rife in our state! But they would be equally concerned, without putting words in their mouths, about the lack of consultation that occurred on the drafting of this bill and the fact that we have legislation before this parliament when entities like that, who represent employer groups, have had no input, no consultation on the initial draft, on the proposed amendments. I note that we now have Senator Askew here as well, another fine northern Tasmanian senator who would share the concerns that the Launceston Chamber of Commerce have provided to us today and another recipient of this letter.

When we are talking about these extreme industrial relations laws we have to acknowledge the points that have been made by many in this debate so far—the devastating impact that some of these changes are going to have, particularly on small to medium business enterprises. We know—and I know you know, Acting Deputy President Henderson—that in small regional communities on the beautiful coast of New South Wales we don't have large employers; we don't have big multinationals occupying hundreds of square metres, employing hundreds of people. They're small to medium businesses. They're the ones who are going to be hit hardest by this. They're the ones who are going to find it hard to make ends meet, as the president and the EO of the Launceston Chamber of Commerce and Industry have said, with this confluence of increasing costs.