Page 4099 - Week 13 - Thursday, 10 November 1994
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Mr Lamont: That is typical.
MR DE DOMENICO: I will tell you why I would leave that alone, Mr Lamont, because - - -
Mr Lamont: Absolutely typical! I am really pleased that this is on the record.
MR DE DOMENICO: It is on the record. I am aware of the fact that there was a TLC election of recent times in the ACT. I would start with the CFMEU and the TWU. I would make sure that organisations like that would not use people in the ACT as their scapegoats and as their pawns in order to attract more members and to have more delegates join up to vote at a TLC election. That, I believe, is something that no-one on this side of the house, anyway, and, I am sure, on the cross benches, would adhere to.
I also notice that a further meeting of Labour Ministers had been proposed, as Mr Lamont said, for September. I dare say that the Minister did go to that one, and I look forward to his report to this Assembly as to what happened in September. I was very interested also in the Commonwealth's considered response to the Industry Commission report about occupational health and safety and workers compensation. I would be very interested in what the ACT response was, if there was one. Perhaps he would make a copy of that available to members of the Assembly who are interested in reading it.
Other matters discussed at the council included the introduction of a supported wage system for workers with disabilities. I think that is a wonderful innovation that ought to be supported very loudly by all members of this Assembly. Another matter was the industrial relations implications, particularly the introduction of a training wage, of the recent Commonwealth Government white paper, Working Nation. When I read that particular statement from the Minister, I recalled the reaction of various people in the Labor Party when Mr Howard and the Liberal Party mentioned a training wage some two years ago, just before the last Federal election. Everybody was talking about workers being dragged out, kids working like slaves in mines, and all sorts of things. I now note that the worm has turned. Mr Lamont is suggesting that there was unanimous support for that sort of innovation, the introduction of a training wage. Perhaps we might disagree as to where training wages are pitched and the process by which they are put in place, but I am grateful that there are examples of unanimous support for that sort of concept. I note also and commend the Minister's comments about a modern and nationally consistent scheme of occupational licensing of plumbers and gasfitters. I recall that we debated a Bill of a similar nature in the last session.
Finally, Madam Speaker, once again, I note that there has been some talk of a national scheme for workers compensation. I am all for talking about mutual recognition in most areas, but we have to be very careful here in the ACT. The Minister, I am sure, because of his involvement in this area of workers compensation, is aware, as I am, that the ACT is different from all other jurisdictions in terms of industrial mix and employment make-up. I would be looking very carefully before I would be signing anything or agreeing to anything about a national workers compensation scheme in the ACT.
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