Page 2234 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 28 August 2007
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Mr Stanhope: It was not a two per cent for art policy either.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Chief Minister, order!
MR MULCAHY: In a question on notice as part of the estimates—
Mr Stefaniak interjecting—
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Stefaniak, do not goad him.
MR MULCAHY: In a question on notice as part of the estimates committee process, the Chief Minister accepted that the government is currently developing a proposal to add a tower to the Canberra Glassworks at a cost of approximately $350,000. This project will be supported by a major sponsorship from Actew. I am surprised that it has not had more public attention. I accept that Actew is able to make its own decisions, but obviously outlays like that on major government works do have an impact upon the ultimate price.
Mr Stanhope: You are opposing that now too, are you?
MR MULCAHY: I am raising questions. This did not come to light until I got to a question on notice. It is a matter of concern that we are making more massive outlays and in the same breath saying that we cannot give money back to the people of Canberra; we cannot afford to help them.
I would also like to discuss the government’s actions in the field of industrial relations. (Second speaking period taken.) This area has been an important political issue recently, for good reason. As we all know, the Australian government has recently introduced its WorkChoices scheme, which is one of the largest reforms of the industrial relations system in Australia that there has been. The scheme has allowed employers and employees some flexibility to escape from the straightjacket of the awards system, a system which has become a complex, confused and illogical mess. I am sure that even Mr Gentleman opposite would be able to cite many examples where well-meaning employers and employees would not have the faintest idea of what a lot of the awards meant, because over the course of time they have become convoluted and complex. The last century has seen an enormous accumulation of haphazard awards. WorkChoices provided for a rationalisation of the system as well as allowing employers and employees greater freedom to bargain outside the inflexible rules imposed under thousands of awards that have accumulated.
Probably one of the most inexcusable and wasteful actions of this government in recent times has been its participation in the High Court challenge of the Labor controlled states and territories against the WorkChoices legislation. Thankfully, this case was defeated in the High Court, which ruled that the Australian government does indeed have the constitutional authority to enact this legislation. This has allowed Australian employers and employees to escape the crippling restrictions of the award system, at least for now.
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