Page 1216 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 6 April 2016
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I am concerned by the commission’s recommendations in relation to transfer of businesses in that existing arrangements under current enterprise agreements would not move to the new employers. The Productivity Commission argue that the Fair Work Commission should have more discretion in order that an arrangement such as an enterprise agreement does not transfer when it improves the prospects of new employment.
The ACT government also opposes the Productivity Commission’s proposal to change the Fair Work Act and to split the Fair Work Commission by establishing those two divisions. The proposal is to have a workplace standards division, one which would deal with the annual minimum wage review and the modern awards. A second, a tribunal division, would, when established, deal with the institution’s quasi-judicial functions.
In the past few days the federal government has shown its contempt for the reasonable rights and wages of truck drivers as set out by the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal. The tribunal handed down an order last December which sets out reasonable and safe rates for truck drivers. The tribunal conducted two years of consultation prior to setting this rate. Minister Cash sought an injunction in the Federal Court on Friday night to stop these conditions becoming mandatory from yesterday, 4 April. This has been done in collaboration with big business in the industry.
Truck drivers are 15 times more likely than average workers in this country to die at work. Twenty-five people were killed in truck accidents in March this year. It is our strong belief that this is because of those economic decisions made.
MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Minister for Housing, Community Services and Social Inclusion, Minister for Multicultural and Youth Affairs, Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Women) (4.39): I welcome the opportunity to talk about penalty rates in the Assembly today. Two years ago, during Anti-Poverty Week, I joined with some of Canberra’s cleaners, security guards and hospitality workers to call on the federal government to cease its attacks on penalty rates and the living standards of our city’s workers.
For many Canberrans, it is penalty rates that protect their dignity as workers and as members of this community. I believe, and this government believes, that people have a right not to just scrape by but to live happy lives connected to their friends and community.
During 2014’s Anti-Poverty Week I asked some Canberra’s workers to share their stories to help those who continue to attack penalty rates understand why penalty rates are important to their inclusion in the life of this city. I think it is timely to revisit those stories today.
At the time, Tom was a 34-year-old security officer with four young children, two in early primary school and two below school age. He is still the sole breadwinner in his family. Like so many security officers in the ACT, he works a 12-hour rotating shift. His base rate of pay is $19.49 per hour. His wife is unable to work as one of his children has additional needs requiring constant care and attention. His wage is
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