Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Cash, I move:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, by no later than 5 pm on 10 August 2023:

(a) all briefing materials produced or provided by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, departmental advice and documents associated with the proposed workplace relations bill, the Minister foreshadowed being introduced later this year in his Sydney Institute speech on 24 July 2023;

(b) all file notes, transcripts and/or minutes the department took in the briefing on the soon to be introduced workplace relations bill held between employer and employee organisations and the department on Friday, 16 June 2023; and

(c) all papers, documents and materials that were provided to the department briefing of employer and employee organisations held at the department's offices on Friday, 16 June 2023.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Andrew McLachlan (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The set of documents requested in this motion is incredibly broad. It would require significant diversion of resources for the department to undertake searches and compile all this information. The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has conducted more than 75 consultation meetings with stakeholders since late March 2023 on the measures being considered for introduction to parliament in the second half of 2023. Over 160 written submissions from organisations have also been received. This is in addition to meetings that Minister Burke's office has facilitated with stakeholders. Consultations facilitated by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations were led by senior departmental officers, with policy and legal experts attending to discuss the measures. Feedback from participants was that the level of detail provided was useful and that discussions were informative. Consultation is exactly that. We are talking to all relevant stakeholders about these proposed reforms. It would not be consultation if the policy position were settled before we consulted.

Andrew McLachlan (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question before the Senate is that the motion standing in the name of Senator Cash for the production of documents in relation to the proposed workplace relations bill, as moved by Senator Cadell, be agreed to.

The Senate divided. [15:58]

(The Deputy President—Senator McLachlan)