Page 3041 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 17 November 1992
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The Federal Minister for Industrial Relations informed the conference of the Commonwealth's decision to extend the coverage of the Commonwealth Employees' Rehabilitation and Compensation Act to enable continued coverage of privatised government business undertakings. The Minister showed his preparedness to respond to the concern raised by some States about further extension of that legislation to the private sector competitors of privatised enterprises by agreeing to limit the reach of his proposed amendments until an examination had been made of the implications of going further.
The conference was informed of the conclusions reached in the review of the effectiveness of the Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for Women) Act 1986. Among other things, it was recommended, as a result of that review, that Labour Ministers should be asked to consider action to ensure coverage of all government employees by equal opportunity employment provisions and for the adoption of contract compliance policies by State and Territory governments. Assembly members will be aware that the ACT Government has already decided to introduce EEO provisions to cover all employment in the ACT government sector and that it will no longer deal with suppliers who do not comply with the requirements of the Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for Women) Act 1986.
In addition to the specific issues I have mentioned, useful information was exchanged on other labour relations matters. I shall take the opportunity to raise some of these matters at the forthcoming meeting of the ACT Industrial Relations Advisory Council, which next meets on 2 December. The ACT Government is committed to consultation as the way to bring about the necessary reforms if we are to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of ACT industry and to create meaningful and satisfying employment opportunities for Canberra job seekers.
Our commitment, Madam Speaker, to consultation and to working in cooperation with both sides of industry sets us poles apart from the industrial relations vandals on the other side of politics. They have demonstrated their capabilities in Victoria. Victorian workers are far worse off as a result. What more elements of a hidden agenda will appear under the Liberals in Victoria? Of course, the Liberals in the ACT squirm when Kennett is mentioned, because he is an embarrassment. At the very same time he shows up the style of these sorts of politicians. These are the sorts of politicians who go to the people with hidden agendas, with secrets under the belt; but immediately they are elected they think about their own pay rates and conditions and slash workers' wages and conditions to pay for their own excesses. That is what Kennett has done, and that is what these people will do and that is what Hewson will do. Madam Speaker, that is what sets us poles apart from the Liberals. I present the following paper:
Labour Ministers Conference - Commonwealth and State - Conference, Canberra - Ministerial statement, 17 November 1992.
I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
Debate (on motion by Mr De Domenico) adjourned.
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