Page 3101 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 24 September 2014
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… that the Fair Work Amendment Bill 2014 introduced in the Federal Senate on 27 August 2014 will have an adverse effect on many Canberra workers …
Where is the evidence? It is easy enough to say, but where is the evidence? Where is the analysis? Table the documents that prove that point. I do not believe that she can.
Paragraph (b) states:
… the failure of the Individual flexibility arrangements proposed in the Bill to account for the unequal bargaining relationship between employers and vulnerable employees including, those seeking flexible working arrangements, young and unskilled workers and workers in areas of high unemployment …
The existing provisions remain, the protections remain, and more is added. The bill is strengthened, so I am told.
But again Ms Berry does not present any evidence. She makes the assertion that the Fair Work Amendment Bill 2014 does not support the recommendations. I understand a number of the recommendations have been picked up. I do not know any government that picks up every recommendation, but my understanding is that a number of the recommendations are picked up, including that employers should, in limited circumstances, have a legal defence. That is a recommendation of the report.
Two further recommendations provide clarity and certainty for both employers and employees. They are brought in. The second amendment will confirm the existing provision that the “better off overall” tests can be satisfied. Some of the provisions from the report were picked up. Some of the recommendations were picked up.
Ms Berry might want to go through and tell us, when she replies, which ones have not and why, and which ones have and why, and her analysis, and table that analysis. When she brings these motions forward, she really does need to be informed, because it is important we get that right.
Paragraph (g) states:
… the limitations placed on the ability of unions to represent and protect the interests and safety of workers in their workplace through the restrictions placed on union right of entry …
Union right of entry? What are we talking about here? Unions going to places where there are no union members, trolling expeditions, seeking new members, seeking relevance in a world where fewer than 13 per cent of people in the private sector belong to a union.
Let us see how wisely the unions have used those rights of entry. The problem with union rights of entry was highlighted by the fair work review panel. They said that there are problems with it and it needs to be fixed. They are quoted as saying that the Pluto LNG project had 200 rights of entry visits. Over what time frame, you ask? Two hundred rights of entry over two years? Over one year? Over six months? No. In three
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