Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 2 April 2012:

With reference to the Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave Funding) Act 1992 and related legislation, as amended in 2011:

(1)   What is the current coverage of this legislation.

(2)   Has the passage of the 2011 amendments led to more claims for coverage than initially indicated.

(3)   How much back pay has been requested since the passage of the 2011 amendments.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

The legislation covers all eligible employees within the black coal mining industry. The scope of who is an 'eligible employee' is set out in section 4 of the Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave) Administration Act 1992). The 2011 amendments did not change the coverage of the legislation.

The Corporation has advised the Department that it is currently making arrangements to invite eligible employees to confirm their service history and, where appropriate, claim extra periods of service. To date, there have been no claims from eligible employees or former eligible employees. The Corporation has indicated that it is not possible to determine the number of claims that will be made and accepted.