Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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I move:

  (1) That the following matter be referred to the Education and Employment References Committee for inquiry and report by the last sitting day in March 2014:

     The Government's approach to re-establishing the Australian Building and Construction Commission through the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013 and related bills, with particular reference to:

(a) the potential impact of the re-establishment of the Australian Building and Construction Commission on the building and construction industry;

(b) the need or otherwise for a specialist industrial regulator in the building and construction industry;

(c) the potential impact of the bills on productivity in the building and construction industry;

(d) whether the bills are consistent with Australia's obligations under international law;

(e) the potential impact of the bills on employees, employers, employer bodies, trade and labour councils, unions and union members;

(f) the extreme and heavy-handed proposed powers of the Australian Building and Construction Commission, including coercive powers, conduct of compulsory interviews, and imprisonment for those who do not co-operate;

(g) the provisions of the bills relating to requirements to provide information to the Australian Building and Construction Commission during interviews including provisions that interviewees have no right to silence;

(h) the provisions of the bills that introduce the law of conspiracy into the industrial regulation of the building and construction industry;

(i) whether the provisions of the bills relating to occupational health and safety in the building and construction industry are adequate to protect the health and safety of employees and contractors in the industry; and

(j) any other related matter.

  (2) That for the avoidance of doubt, standing order 115(3) applies to the consideration of the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013 and any related bills.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—The government does not support this referral of legislation to a references committee. The bill has already been subject to a Senate legislation committee that has reported. Opposition senators have already said that they will oppose this legislation and have not explained why they wish to drag this out until March. The government is opposed to the concept of referring legislation to references committees as a matter of principle. We will not be supporting the motion.

Question agreed to.