Page 4599 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 27 November 2019
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to organise for the promotion of economic and social interests. The rules as they stand today in Australia allow for very limited promotion of economic interests through enterprise bargaining but are actively hostile to the promotion of social interests.
When I think of the greatest achievements of trade unionism in Australia, anti-discrimination laws, superannuation, workplace health and safety and gender equality come to mind. Those are economic interests. But when I think of the proudest moments, social interests join the lists: the green bans of Sydney; the refusal of the wharfies to load the pig iron that was destined to make bombs for imperial Japan; the moratoriums opposing conscription during the Vietnam War; the great strike of 1917; and the coordinated effort to disrupt trade with South Africa which long preceded the official sanctions that ended apartheid. These are some of the greatest things Australian trade unionism has done for society and the world, and it is a great stain upon this nation that those actions would be criminal today.
The decision we make on this bill will have consequences in both direct and indirect ways. For government and the Assembly, it means that future scrutiny committee reports will include specific consideration of workers rights in our consideration of laws. Further, it will provide guidance to government in all aspects as to how we will respect workers rights. Of course, we cannot override commonwealth laws, but we can make clear where the ACT stands on protecting workers rights and we can do our part in the legal framework that exists.
Symbolically this amendment will send a signal to both public and private sectors setting a standard. Nationally, it will again reinforce the ACT’s place at the forefront of human rights law. Finally, it will engage our Human Rights Commission and parts of our justice system in advancing workers rights.
I would like to thank all the great advocates for workers and human rights who have contributed to this bill. The advice of the Human Rights Commission was invaluable, as was the advocacy of many union and labour activists over many years. Some advocates have been working towards this moment for a very long time. Simon Rice also deserves credit. This is a great example of how a good idea can sometimes take decades to deliver but it is always worth hanging on and keeping up the good fight.
Let us put workers rights in the Human Rights Act. Canberrans deserve just and favourable conditions of work. They already have the right to just and favourable conditions of work; our laws just do not recognise them, and they should. They are a fundamental human right and they should be part of our fundamental law.
Debate (on motion by Mr Ramsay) adjourned to the next sitting.
Justice and Community Safety—Standing Committee
Proposed reference
MS CODY (Murrumbidgee) (10.36): I move:
That the Human Rights (Workers Rights) Amendment Bill 2019 be referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety for report by the first sitting day of 2020.
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