Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Hanson. A very thorough consultation process was undertaken before the introduction, meeting with key business peaks on multiple occasions as well as the ACTU and many business groups representing single interests, such as: Clubs Australia; the Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association; the Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association; the manufacturing and insulation association; individual employers, such as Qantas DP World and Team Global Express, formally Toll; the National Women's Alliances, including representatives from Migrant Women in Business, Harmony Alliance, the National Rural Women's Coalition, Women with Disabilities Australia and YWCA Canberra; academics with a focus on workplace practices and law, including Professor Anthony Forsyth from RMIT and Professor Crystal from the University of Sydney; written submissions ahead of the Jobs and Skills Summit, including from peak business groups—34 were sought and 20 received; the Committee on Industrial Legislation, including business representatives from the peak body; the Business Council of Australia; the Housing Industry Association; the National Farmers Federation; the Master Builders, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, representing COSBOA; the Australian Industry Group; Australian Business Lawyers & Advisers; and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association was invited, but did not attend.

From 10 to 14 October 2022, the department held 10 dedicated consultations, including with business peaks and employers—for example, Woolworths, academics, the ACTU, state and territory officials and the National Women's Alliances. In terms of consultation on government amendments: since the introduction on the 27th, the minister's office and the department had at least a dozen further meetings with employers and employee groups to discuss concerns, including with the Franchise Council of Australia, business peaks, BHP, Clubs Australia, Wesfarmers, Woolworths and Coles. Obviously, the Senate inquiry was held as well; it had five days of hearings. My understanding is that there was only a one-day hearing into the bill re-establishing the ABCC.