Page 1060 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 2 May 2006
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well looked after. In fact, any employer who has good employees is hardly likely to be turfing them out the door.
WorkChoices, as I have just said, is founded on the principle that the best arrangements are those developed by employers and employees. It is simply time that the Stanhope government recognised some of these points. It should take the time to reflect and, after a time, when the community has had the chance to fully realise the impacts of the changes to legislation, be they good or not so good, to agree bring forth constructive criticism of any deficiencies in the law through the proper channels.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation and Minister for Industrial Relations) (4.16): We have been living under the Howard government’s draconian industrial relations system for just over a month. I therefore welcome the initiative shown by my colleague Mr Gentleman in bringing forward this matter of public importance today.
Mr Smyth: But I thought the sky was going to fall; the barbecues were going to end!
MR BARR: If the leader of the opposition has finished, I will continue.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, put your flak jacket on and quieten down, thank you.
MR BARR: As I was saying, I do welcome the initiative shown by Mr Gentleman in bringing this matter of public importance forward today. It is important that we debate the impact of this repressive legislation on the people of Canberra and on Canberra families in particular. As I stated this morning in my inaugural speech, I am concerned about the impact these extreme changes will have on the wages and conditions of many workers in our community. It is already apparent that it is going to lead to a reduction in choice.
Mrs Burke: I raise a point of order under standing order 130, which deals with anticipation of business for debate on the notice paper and under review by select committees. It is anticipation of debate.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Barr, the point of order has some relevance, but I am not going to be draconian about it. Could you just make sure you move back to the centre line?
MR BARR: Certainly. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. Having a workplace that allows its workers to achieve a work/life balance is crucial not only to optimise job satisfaction for employees but also to achieve the productivity that comes with this satisfaction. It also minimises the level of social disruption in our community.
To achieve this, employers and governments need to be mindful of a worker’s responsibilities outside the workplace. Whilst not perfect, past industrial relations systems have at least attempted to reflect these responsibilities. WorkChoices does not. Instead it rejects the empowering nature of collective bargaining; ignores the unpredictability of workers’ lives; abandons any safety net for vulnerable workers and removes any element of job security for employees in small workplaces. This legislation
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