Page 3133 - Week 07 - Thursday, 30 June 2011
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Turning to the community sector, the Greens are concerned that there is no evidence of forward planning in relation to the decision of the Fair Work Australia case on wages. This of course has been made on behalf of the 200,000-strong community sector workforce across Australia.
The pay gap between community sector workers and those doing equal or comparable work is irrefutable. And with 85 per cent of the community sector workforce being women, this constitutes a significant gender pay gap issue. The Australian Services Union want pay rises of between 14 and 50 per cent. As I said, they have been working hard and we know the case is well underway.
Governments have increasingly outsourced their social services to community organisations, and they need to acknowledge the extent of the problem and their responsibility in helping to address it. The Australian Council of Social Service’s Australian community sector surveys have long revealed that that capacity to attract and retain workers is the single biggest industrial issue facing community organisations.
Although we would expect there to be a phasing-in period to any wage increases, we need action on this as soon as possible to provide equity and fairness across the ACT workforce. At a recent briefing at the directorate, I was made aware that community expectations and what is able to be achieved by the Fair Work Australia case may not match. Community workers in the ACT are seeking parity with their local government counterparts, and it is unclear if this decision will meet that expectation.
This budget has not including any allocation of money in the 2011-12 budget or the outyears for wage increases beyond that of CPI or WPI. The Greens will continue to make sure that any increases to wages do not result in a decrease in services being provided to the community. This is an absolute stand that we will continue to take. We will continue to monitor the progress of this issue very closely. (Second speaking period taken.)
The area of disability did benefit in this year’s budget. Most would agree that it is an area of considerable need and one that the Greens have long been fighting for. Thousands of working parents across the ACT access after-school care for their children and most of them access it without any problem. For parents of children with a disability, especially with high needs, this basic service has been out of reach. Parents have either not worked and suffered financially or worked limited hours and again suffered financially and socially. Single parents have faced enormous hardship as they struggle with full-time paid work and caring responsibilities.
I am pleased to see that Minister Burch has responded to calls from parents to provide more places for after-school and vacation care for students with a disability. I am also pleased that the Greens could play a part in raising the importance of funding of these services. There is much work to be done in disability services but I am glad to see funding for our carers who face incredible obstacles just to participate in the workforce. The Greens will continue to advocate for those with a disability and their carers, highlighting the value of these essential services and ensuring that they are not
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