Mary Fisher (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is of the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Arbib. Under the government’s award modernisation, what unique features of the restaurant and catering sector merit concessions separate from the hospitality sector?

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Fisher. It is a pleasure to be able to get up and talk about industrial relations, and certainly about the transition to a fair and less complex industrial relations system. Can I say to Senator Fisher that we are extremely proud of the work we are doing in award modernisation. It is an area that had been left on the backburner by the previous government for far too long and it is real reform. It is reform that business has actually been asking about—streamlining awards and ensuring less complex features.

The transition will take place over five years, and there has been a great deal of discussion and consultation with the catering and restaurant industry; there is no doubt there has been a great deal of discussion and consultation with them. They have raised a number of issues in their operations concerning overtime and night shifts, and the Deputy Prime Minister has taken that on board and has asked the Industrial Relations Commission to have a look at those issues, which they are doing. There are certainly other issues in the areas you raise, and I am sure the follow-on question will be about other areas that the government will also be looking at—horticulture, retail and pharmacy. These areas are under examination by the government because we are about providing flexible, streamlined awards that actually provide fairness to workers but at the same time provide certainty to employers.

Mary Fisher (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Those other sectors such as horticulture, cleaning services, retail, pharmacy and fast food consider they have the same challenges as the restaurant and catering sector. They want the same, Minister; you know they deserve the same. Will the government give them the same?

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The decision by the Deputy Prime Minister to issue the variation to the award modernisation request was one that was not taken lightly. It is not the usual practice of the Deputy Prime Minister to intervene in the award modernisation process. However, in some cases there will need to be intervention. Can I say, Senator Fisher, that in the areas you raise—horticulture, pharmacy and retail—there is examination going on right now by the department and also by the Deputy Prime Minister. I do not think that is any surprise because there is extensive consultation with the sector going on right now; Senator Marshall just raised that. This was raised with Senator Fisher in estimates. Again, this is about streamlining these awards—reform that should have taken place in the past but was too hard for those on the other side of the chamber. (Time expired)

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A person is entitled to be heard in silence when they are answering just as a person is entitled to be heard in silence when they are asking the question. It cuts both ways.

Mary Fisher (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Given the government’s best efforts to destroy the economy through debt and deficit, why is the government simultaneously overhauling awards to gut business confidence, stop jobs and stunt the economy?

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can I just say that we are keeping the election commitments that we promised at the last election. I would like to remind you, Senator Fisher—wait for this one—you actually voted for it. You voted for this.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat, Senator Arbib. I asked people to be quiet at the start. A bit of respect is worth while.

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I said previously, those on the opposite side of the chamber actually voted for this legislation. They voted for this legislation—a fairer industrial relations system. But again we see the true colours of the Liberal Party—reverting to Work Choices. Peter Costello, the architect of Work Choices, may be on his way out, but those on the opposite side of the chamber still want it back. The government’s plan is to stimulate the economy with the largest infrastructure program the country has ever seen. We talk about the Building the Education Revolution; every school in the country will be getting infrastructure. That is what we are doing. That is what the government is providing—support for jobs. (Time expired)