Page 1912 - Week 06 - Thursday, 9 June 2016

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The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Administration and Procedure—Standing Committee

Reference

MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for Planning and Land Management, Minister for Racing and Gaming and Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations) (11.48), by leave: I move

That the proposed continuing resolution relating to a family friendly workplace be referred to the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure for consideration and report by the next day of sitting.

This motion presents a few issues regarding implementation. While the government supports family friendly workplaces and appreciates the difficulty experienced by parents, the government feels it would be better to have this motion examined for its practicality. As it stands, the system of granting pairs is an informal convention between the two major parties. Not only is this system not reflected in standing orders but it also does not account for the crossbench members of the Assembly who are not part of this agreement. So on these grounds we think it would be better to refer it to the committee.

MRS JONES (Molonglo) (11.50): While obviously there is no problem in having this resolution assessed by admin and procedure, I find it rather surprising that on this side of the chamber we work with members on the other side when they want to bring things to the chamber but there was no notice given to me, or even any thought or information given to me, about the government’s position on this. When Mr Gentleman stood up to move that the motion be adjourned, there was no explanation given or understanding why that was being done, which shocks me, to be honest. When the government have a bill that they are putting through, we make sure we seek information from them and work in a respectful manner with the other side.

I hope that the views of the admin and procedure committee mean that the motion is better, if that is possible. Certainly, I have taken into account the feedback that the Labor Party have given through their own whip about the changes that they wanted. They want to see men and women included in this standing resolution. So we will see it go off to admin and procedure.

I just want to put on the record that I would like this to be dealt with in this Assembly. None of us is guaranteed that we will get our seat back, and it would be a sad thing for women in a future Assembly if this were not ever dealt with simply because something happened to one of us and we were not able to pursue it.

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