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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 13 Hansard (20 November) . . Page.. 3799 ..

MS GALLAGHER (continuing):

Many consumers want to know that the tag "Australian made" means fairly paid and fairly made. This is supported in survey work conducted in jurisdictions in other states. Nine out of 10 women surveyed by the New South Wales Department of Industrial Relations and the Dangar Research Group were willing to pay 5 per cent extra on the price tag for a garment if they were guaranteed it was ethically produced. In addition, the survey found that whether or not a shop stocked ethically produced garments would be a factor for two-thirds of women in choosing where to shop.

We have the ability to ensure that consumers have the information and therefore the purchasing power to enforce award standards through ethical purchasing. Smart businesses would soon realise that there is clear competitive advantage to be gained by adopting ethical sourcing.

The new fair trade code of practice would exempt some businesses. It would exempt those businesses who have already voluntarily opened their books and are enforcing award standards on their suppliers. The Australian Retailers Association and retailers such as Target have already signed on to the model ethical code of practice. They deserve our congratulations as a community, and their decision to act ethically must also be protected so their commitments are not undermined by less steadfast retailers.

As I mentioned earlier, this is part of a coherent legislative agenda pursued across all state and territory jurisdictions. A bill currently before the Victorian parliament mirrors many of the proposals put here today and in some respects goes further. Queensland has already implemented a code of practice and inserted ethical sourcing clauses into all government tender documents.

By far and away the leader in this field is New South Wales. Last year the Carr Labor government introduced the first comprehensive scheme to regulate outwork manufacture to enforce the law against unscrupulous manufacturers and emphasise the obligations of government and business.

In 2001 the New South Wales parliament passed the Industrial Relations (Ethical Clothing Trades) Act and new provisions in the Industrial Relations Act 1996 to introduce a number of measures to assist outworkers to claim and protect their rights and entitlements.

Supporting this motion today would ensure that ACT is in line with neighbouring state legislation and fulfilling our obligations to Australia's most exploited workers, ensuring that their conditions remain neither hidden nor heinous.

When we look at a little tag on clothing which says "Aussie made" let us make sure it does not stand for exploitation or child labour. Let us make sure it stands for a fair day's work for a fair day's pay here in the ACT and in Australia as a whole.

I commend the motion to the Assembly.

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