Page 3538 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 25 August 2009
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to introduce a community sector scheme some time later this year. I note that the minister informed the Assembly that the provisions in the legislation for the community sector scheme will be informed by the consultations undertaken with workers and employers in the community sector earlier this year. The Greens will be looking forward to continued consultation with the community sector in the lead-up to the introduction of this legislation to ensure that all employers within the community sector understand their obligations and are able to provide their employees with long service leave entitlements.
I just wanted to make a note that the start of this discussion around a portable long service leave scheme for the community sector came out of the community sector task force report that was done several years ago that acknowledged that there needed to be a number of things done in order to assist the community sector in attracting and retaining staff, particularly staff with qualifications. This scheme will be a bonus. It will be a step forward in assisting those community organisations to hopefully retain their employees and certainly to attract employees into the sector.
The Greens have always supported increased entitlements for employees, and long service leave is a basic provision that all employees must be assured of. The Greens will continue to support reforms in the area of portable long service leave management and administration in the ACT, especially in areas such as the community sector which provide essential services to the community and, as I have said, have often fallen behind in entitlement reform.
MS PORTER (Ginninderra) (10.54): Before speaking directly on the bill we are debating today, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on what brings us to this chamber to discuss the Long Service Leave (Portable Schemes) Bill 2009. I am not sure that all members in this place are aware that long service leave is a benefit unique to Australia and New Zealand and some public servants in India and can be traced back to our colonial influence. It is believed that this leave has developed from the concept of furlough, which was temporary leave of absence from employment or duty in the armed services or, interestingly enough, from a prison term.
Mr Hanson interjecting—
Mr Hargreaves: Are you supposed to be upsetting me today, are you? You’ll have to do a little better than that.
Mr Hanson: We will. Don’t worry.
Mr Hargreaves: I look forward to it. Vicki’s been trying to do it for about six or seven years and hasn’t managed to do it yet.
Mr Hanson: How am I going?
Mr Hargreaves: Not real well.
Mr Hanson: Really?
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