Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Women, Senator Cash. Can the minister confirm that the Turnbull government is seeking to remove enforceable provisions in the current round of departmental enterprise bargaining providing for domestic violence leave and family violence leave? Why does the Minister for Women want to make working women in the public sector worse off?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Moore for the question. I can assure you, Senator Moore, that that is absolutely not the position of the Turnbull government, despite what the head of the CPSU, Nadine Flood, is stating to members of the APS.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As you would be aware, when I came into office I actually improved the bargaining position from 1.5 per cent in terms of pay increases to two per cent each year over the three years—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Do you have a point of order, Senator Moore?

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is on direct relevance. I am wanting to refocus the minister. The question was not about wages; it was about the enforceable rights to domestic violence leave.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not believe there is a point of order, Senator Moore. The minister answered your question directly and she rejected outright the notion in the question.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In direct answer to Senator Moore's question: no, that is not the position of the Turnbull government.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. When companies like Telstra, NAB and Virgin Australia have domestic violence leave in their enterprise agreements, can you tell me how the Turnbull government is actually maintaining such agreements in the current round of public sector bargaining?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As Senator Moore would be aware, the government merely sets the bargaining framework. The government has set the bargaining framework.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is then for individual agencies to negotiate with the workers. But I will make one point in relation to what Ms Flood has been saying to the workforce which has proven to be completely, totally and utterly—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on both sides. Senator Wong, do you have a point of order?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My point of order is direct relevance. There is nothing in the question about the union and there is nothing in the question about Ms Flood. The question is making the point that some very large private sector companies have domestic violence leave in their enterprise agreement and asking why the government is enabling a situation where that is being taken out of enterprise bargaining agreements.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I believe the minister has answered that part of the question.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For the benefit of those on the other side, the government sets the parameters of the bargaining framework. Bargaining itself is then for individual agencies. The mere fact that Ms Flood, as head of the CPSU, is running around and having a scare campaign with employees is, quite frankly, disappointing. The example I give, Senator Moore, is in relation to breastfeeding. In fact, it was Safe Work Australia who were accused of basically no longer allowing— (Time expired)

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Given the minister's support for ensuring that there are good conditions, will the minister support Labor's plan to add five days of paid domestic and family violence leave to the National Employment Standards?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As Senator Moore would be aware, I received the Productivity Commission's review of the workplace relations framework late last year. I am currently undertaking stakeholder consultations. The government will announce its position in due course in the lead-up to the election.