Page 4277 - Week 11 - Thursday, 25 October 2018

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do the right thing. The community expects that employers abide by the law and treat their employees well and that their tax dollars go to employers that meet the highest standards. The reforms enabled by this bill respond to these expectations.

The use of procurement measures by governments to support workplace relations or social policy agendas is not a new phenomenon. On the contrary, some members may be surprised to learn that attempts by governments to connect workplace relations and procurement have been documented in 19th century England, the United States and France. As one example, in 1840 US President Martin van Buren ordered the establishment of a 10-hour working day for people operating under certain government contracts. Fortunately, as Mr Pettersson outlined, workplace relation standards have progressed significantly since the 10-hour working day, and this government has undertaken to deliver further improvements and protections for the people of Canberra.

Before I close, I do want to just reiterate something that I think Mr Rattenbury made clear in relation to Mr Wall’s circulated amendment. Mr Wall again implied, as the MBA does, that all 1,300 current IRE holders would need to be recertified under the secure local jobs code by 15 January. This is simply not the case. Businesses and other organisations will only need to be certified if they are submitting a tender for work where the procurement commences on or after 15 January.

I can assure Mr Wall that we are working through the various actions and instruments that will be required to support the implementation of the secure local jobs package, and I have every confidence that the time frame can be met. I commend the bill to the Assembly.

Question put:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

The Assembly voted—

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Detail stage

Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.

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