Page 3720 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 9 December 1992
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As a result of the council's deliberations, the Commonwealth Government has agreed to consult the States and Territories on the use of its external affairs power to determine conditions relating to minimum wages, equal pay, and termination of employment for workers outside existing Federal and State awards. A committee of Ministers, to be chaired by the Commonwealth, will examine as a matter of urgency the proposal to have International Labour Organisation conventions apply to the States' industrial jurisdiction, including its impacts on the conduct of State and Territory industrial relations. The Commonwealth has undertaken not to introduce that aspect of its industrial relations legislation which relies on the external affairs power prior to this consultation with the States and Territories. The protection of the working conditions of all Australians is a matter dear to the heart of this Government and one which clearly underpins the Commonwealth Government's intentions. We look forward to working in a cooperative process to examine the means by which this objective can be realised.
It would be unfortunate if the contentiousness of industrial relations issues were allowed to mask the many and diverse matters of significance on which agreement was reached at Monday's inaugural meeting of the Council of Australian Governments. It is particularly pleasing to report that two ACT initiatives were considered by the council. There was very strong support for my proposal for a review of the number, scope and distribution of ministerial councils. It has long been a concern to me that, with only four Ministers, it is impossible for the ACT to participate in the 48 existing ministerial councils. Equally, I have been particularly conscious of the relatively high costs to the Territory of attending and contributing to the work of ministerial councils, both in terms of the demands upon Ministers and officials and as far as travel is concerned.
Having been called on to participate in so many councils, it has become apparent to me and my ministerial colleagues that there is much overlap and duplication between councils, some whose very existence must be questioned and others whose frequency and location of meetings are cause for concern. All members of the Council of Australian Governments embraced the proposal for a systematic review, and the thinking that lay behind it. The review will be conducted with the aim of at least halving the number of councils and ensuring that those which remain operate efficiently and are modest in their travel practices. Ministers, the ACT Government Service and the community at large stand to gain from a smaller, more effective and efficient system of ministerial councils. That the ACT has been able to show national leadership in its determination to achieve efficient government reflects well on us as a responsible partner in the Australian federal system.
I also raised with the Council of Australian Governments the important issue of violence in our communities. I presented to heads of government the national strategy on violence against women, which has been developed by a committee comprising representatives of all governments and a community member from each jurisdiction. Members will recall that I informed the Assembly of the strategy some weeks ago and outlined its overall direction and the many actions contained within it that are already being pursued by the Government.
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