Page 4547 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 26 November 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (11.54): The ACT Greens will be supporting the Long Service Leave (Portable Schemes) Amendment Bill 2019. Long service leave is an important entitlement for the health and wellbeing of our workforce, financially and physiologically. It recognises years of hard work and service. The portable long service leave scheme aims to protect the entitlements of workers in industries characterised by high levels of mobility and casual employment.
Traditionally, long service leave only accrued to a person working for one employer over a significant period of time. Portable long service leave recognises that a person can have a career in the same or similar industries despite moving between employers. It ensures that people have access to long service leave entitlements similar to those of workers in more permanent employment. Leave and related entitlements offer positive benefits for employees but also for businesses and employers in areas including productivity, morale and staff retention.
The changes in this bill will work to provide more clarity for scheme participants and correct a range of administrative and technical matters. The change of terminology to “education and care services” to reflect the current language in early childhood education and care is a small but important one that recognises the crucial role of educators in the lives of Canberran children and young people.
The amendments to enable better compliance with and enforcement of the payment of interest and levies will further protect the rights and entitlements of workers within the portable long service leave scheme.
The changes in this bill work to ensure that businesses are meeting their requirements under the legislation and add clarity and certainty for those working in dynamic and sometimes volatile industries. It will be harder for unscrupulous employers to dodge their responsibilities to their workers, especially in the event of phoenixing. The legislation includes measures to enable both workers and workplaces to demonstrate their compliance with the requirements and to address any mitigating factors in disputes.
The ACT Greens have long been advocates for long service leave across industries, and for the fair and just application of the laws governing entitlements. We understand that the portable long service scheme is evolving, and will continue to evolve, to meet the needs of ACT workers and businesses. We believe this bill is part of that evolution and we are pleased to support it today.
MS ORR (Yerrabi—Minister for Community Services and Facilities, Minister for Disability, Minister for Employment and Workplace Safety and Minister for Government Services and Procurement) (11.57), in reply: I table a revised explanatory statement to the bill. In closing, I thank Mr Rattenbury for his comments. They are in stark contrast to Mr Wall’s probably more alarmist feedback. Long service leave is an important reward for long and faithful service. It is a benefit that the ACT government believes all workers should have the opportunity to earn. Unfortunately, modern contract and project-based employment arrangements have meant that workers in some industries, through no fault of their own, have been unable to accumulate and
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video