Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senators Cameron, Rhiannon and Lambie, I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Education and Employment References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 November 2016:

The impact of the Government's Workplace Bargaining Policy and approach to Commonwealth public sector bargaining, with particular reference to:

(a) the failure of the Government to conclude workplace bargaining across the Australian Public Service almost three years after the process began – a process that has impacted on more than 150,000 staff nationally and 115 agencies during this time;

(b) the impact of the protracted dispute on service provision, particularly in regional Australia, and for vulnerable and elderly people;

(c) the impact on Australia's tourism industry and international reputation as a result of ongoing international port and airport strikes;

(d) the impact on agency productivity and staff morale of the delay in resolving enterprise agreements across the Australian Public Service;

(e) the effect of the implementation of the Government's Workplace Bargaining Policy on workplace relations in the Commonwealth public sector;

(f) the effect of the implementation of the Government's Workplace Bargaining Policy on the working conditions and industrial rights of Commonwealth public sector employees;

(g) the extent to which the implementation of the Workplace Bargaining Policy impacts on employee access to workplace flexibility, and with particular regard to flexibility for employees with family or caring responsibilities;

(h) whether the Workplace Bargaining Policy and changes or reductions in employees' working conditions and industrial rights, including access to enforceable domestic and family violence leave, are a factor in the protracted delay in resolving enterprise agreements;

  (i) the effect of an expanded role for the responsible Minister in the Government's Workplace Bargaining Policy; and

(j) any other related matter.

Notice of motion altered on 12 October 2016 pursuant to standing order 77.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government's current bargaining policy offers a pay rise that is reasonable and responsible in the current environment. Despite assertions, agencies have been successfully bargaining with their employees in line with the bargaining policy, and 11 out of 12 agreements have been voted up since the federal election. Nevertheless, the CPSU still refuses the government's reasonable pay offer, meaning that some public servants have not had a pay rise for almost three years. Unfortunately, the union remains more interested in organising and promoting industrial action than ensuring their members receive a pay rise.

Question agreed to.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the following matters be referred to the Education and Employment References Committee for inquiry and report by 7 August 2017:

The incidence of, and trends in, corporate avoidance of the Fair Work Act 2009, with particular reference to:

(a) the use of labour hire and/or contracting arrangements that affect workers' pay and conditions;

(b) voting cohorts to approve agreements with a broad scope that affect workers' pay and conditions;

(c) the use of agreement termination that affect workers' pay and conditions;

(d) the effectiveness of transfer of business provisions in protecting workers' pay and conditions;

(e) the avoidance of redundancy entitlements by labour hire companies;

(f) the effectiveness of any protections afforded to labour hire employees from unfair dismissal;

(g) the approval of enterprise agreements by workers not yet residing in Australia that affect workers' pay and conditions;

(h) the extent to which companies avoid their obligations under the Fair Work Act 2009 by engaging workers on visas;

(i) whether the National Employment Standards and modern awards act as an effective 'floor' for wages and conditions and the extent to which companies enter into arrangements that avoid those obligations;

(j) legacy issues relating to WorkChoices and Australian Workplace Agreements;

(k) the economic and fiscal impact of reducing wages and conditions across the economy; and

(l) any other related matters.

Question agreed to.