Page 3296 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 21 August 2018
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
can you ensure that the left faction members of your cabinet do not make decisions based on self-interest but instead make decisions on behalf of all Canberrans?
MADAM SPEAKER: Can you hold on for a moment. I am just getting some advice about that question being in order. The advice was given that the focus was around factional work from the party conference, but then he has linked it to cabinet. Chief Minister.
MR BARR: All members of cabinet act at all times in the best interests of the people of the Australian Capital Territory.
MR WALL: Chief Minister, how can you ensure that left faction members of your cabinet are not unduly influenced by left faction powerbrokers of your party and other entities such as United Voice and the CFMEU?
MR BARR: I refer the member to my previous answer.
MR COE: Chief Minister, what role do the factions formally play in the leadership of the Australian Labor Party?
MADAM SPEAKER: The question is out of order. That is the advice I have.
Government—employment policy
MR STEEL: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, why are secure and permanent jobs so important to the ACT economy?
MR BARR: I thank Mr Steel for the question. There is no doubt that secure and permanent jobs create certainty and certainty creates confidence, which then flows through into the economy. When people have secure work and they are being paid good wages, they are far more likely to consume and invest in our local economy.
People on short-term contracts do not feel financially safe and are more likely to be living from payday to payday. There is a move internationally and nationally towards labour hire arrangements, which has only exacerbated this insecurity. The federal coalition government’s propensity to continue efficiency dividends and to have what have turned out to be very counterproductive average staffing level caps in the public sector have caused significant surges in the use of labour hire contractors and consultancies.
When labour hire is engaged, we can see circumstances where people who are working side by side are not receiving the same pay or the same rights for the same work. This is why we have recently announced that the ACT government will move to license labour hire companies who engage in work in the territory. We want Canberrans to be certain of their financial future so that they can continue to support local business and the broader economy.
MR STEEL: Chief Minister what steps is the ACT government taking to combat insecure work?
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video