Page 527 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 21 February 2018
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The biggest concern we hold is that much of what is outlined in the secure jobs code package paper is in complete contradiction to existing commonwealth fair work laws, health and safety laws and also the National Construction Code. The question remains: is the ACT going to go it alone in the industrial relation space and give new and unprecedented powers to unions? That is made evidently clear in this paper; it is proposed that the local jobs code would also legislate an active participatory role for unions in the induction of workers.
I do not think it is a secret to anyone; unions want to be in the induction process because it means one thing and one thing only—when a person starts their job they can be coerced into joining the movement. It is plainly and simply about recruitment and about membership. There is a very cute little disclaimer that the induction process should be done in a manner that does not trigger conflict with fair work or right-of-entry provisions.
The minister and her department are well aware that they are flying very close to the breeze on this one. In many respects there is clear, intended contradiction with existing federal government laws. The question that remains to be answered is why there was a need for the ACT to go it alone in this space when there is such a rigorous framework at the commonwealth level.
I will touch very briefly on the comments by the Greens members about modern slavery. I believe Mrs Dunne will speak very briefly on that in a moment. Let us be clear that there is no acceptance of slavery in the modern era in our supply chain and in government procurement or in any aspect of our society. Mrs Dunne’s work on highlighting the problem that is modern slavery, the impact that it has and the depth to which it extends has been steadfast over a number of years. Any attempts to confuse what is essentially a wish list of a trade unionist being put forward by a government minister as a cover for addressing as serious issue an issue as modern slavery is appalling. I look forward to watching keenly and closely how the minister addresses the issues of both this consultation paper and modern slavery going forward.
There are clear and fundamental differences between members on my side of the chamber and those opposite in the way we view the industrial relations landscape. They are for organised trade influence in their government at the expense of small local enterprises who are just trying to do their best to provide for their family, to support their city and to create jobs for other Canberrans, if not other Australians. Their efforts need to be commended and it should be their interests that we look at very keenly.
There is a long track record in this place of a lot of rhetorical support for local business, but then the rubber hits the road and the demands come from the trade union movement, UnionsACT, those in the CFMEU and others who are very influential over members on the opposite side. They seem to call the shots at the expense of good policy and good economic management for this territory.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism and Major Events) (4.35): It is almost
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