Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Lambie, presuming this amendment is passed, it will become the law of Australia, and every employee who's covered by the act would have this right. The point is to broaden and extend it from the enterprise bargaining agreements where it already applies and to make it a broader right for all employees.

You asked, Senator Lambie, about the types of factors that need to be taken into account to determine whether it's reasonable for an employee to refuse to be contacted outside their normal hours. All of those reasons are set out in proposed section 333M(3). I know we've got limited time, so I won't read them all out, but all of those reasons are clearly set out in that clause.

You raised small businesses. I think I addressed this before. The right won't exist until six months after royal assent to the bill, but for small businesses there will be an additional 12 months on top of that to make arrangements with their employees and in their workplaces before the Fair Work Act obligations apply.