Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Cameron, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Finance, Services and Innovation has stated that it will not be extending employment guarantees for cleaners, which have been in place since 1994, in the new contracts in 2018,

  (ii) the Fair Work Act 2009 allows employers, such as the NSW government, to take this action,

  (iii) 7,000 school cleaners in NSW will need to reapply for their jobs for the first time in 24 years,

  (iv) many of these already precarious and underpaid workers will be placed under unnecessary financial stress, including housing stress,

  (v) regional school cleaners will face the brunt of this announcement, as many of these workers will be unable to find another job in their area if their contracts are not renewed, and

  (vi) United Voice NSW, the union for cleaners, is doing an excellent job advocating for these workers; and

(b) calls on:

  (i) the Federal Government to amend the Fair Work Act 2009 so previous employment guarantees are retained when new contracts are drawn up, and

  (ii) the NSW Government to ensure jobs are guaranteed to all cleaners who want to continue employment under the new agreement.

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.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) 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 acknowledges the hard work of cleaners across the country and hopes that a mutually beneficial agreement can be reached. The contracts themselves are a matter for the New South Wales government.

Question agreed to.