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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 10 Hansard (24 September) . . Page.. 3207 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

working conditions. These are people who put their clients and their job before their own interests on many occasions, and it would be quite unfair of us if we were to turn our back on them so far as that particular proposition is concerned. The proposition I talk about is that this Assembly supports the introduction of a common rule award for all social and community service workers in the ACT. I do not think there is any other course for us to take. There is certainly no fair course for us to take, other than that one.

Further, the motion calls on the Government to ensure that organisations are not penalised by the implementation of a common rule award for these workers and to supplement organisations to enable them to meet their award obligations. The Government could say, "You can say to us that they should not be penalised and that the Government should supplement organisations, but we can tell you to go away if we like". Well, be that on the Government's head, if that is the course they decide upon. The fact of the matter is that this is a motion that means business. Certainly, Labor means that the Government should take it seriously and support the common rule award for these workers and supplement organisations to enable them to meet their award obligations.

The fear of many workers in the community is that the Liberals' new regime of competitive tendering for scarce government funding will force agencies to cut back on employee entitlements, to bring in tenders at a lower price. That is the competitive nature of the Liberals' approach to industrial relations; that is what they want to do; that is the way they want to approach it. They want to squeeze costs down. They do not care if workers in the community services sector are being screwed down as well to provide these services, because Mrs Carnell could come out and say, "It is not my fault. I am having nothing to do with it. We gave them a budget and said they have to work within it. How they manage their own affairs is their own problem, not mine". Well, this is one area where we have a role to play, and that is that the Government is in a position where it can commit itself to the common rule award and it should do so.

For the ultimate advocates of level playing fields, like the Liberals, this is their chance. We will create the level playing field for all workers in the Territory; that is, we will support the introduction of a common rule award for all social and community service workers. That is most appropriate and should be supported. The industry-wide award will, at least, create that level playing field I spoke of. All agencies will be forced to compete then on award rates. They are not going to compete on the basis of how hard they can work their employees or how little they have to pay them. That is an inappropriate basis upon which to compete. This motion calls on the Government to financially assist community organisations to meet their award obligations. A refusal by the Government to increase funding to cover any increased award costs will see many ACT community service workers lose their jobs in their attempt to secure decent working conditions; that is, if they do not support both proposals which I put in the motion which is before this Assembly today for your consideration. I urge members to support this very fair and humane motion.

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