Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On indulgence, I associate myself with the contributions made in the previous debate and the reforms that will take effect for Norfolk Island.

I rise to speak on the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Legislation Amendment (Exit Arrangements) Bill 2015. As the government's explanatory memorandum states:

The Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 … establishes … (the Comcare scheme) to provide compensation and rehabilitation support to injured Australian Government and Australian Capital Territory employees, as well as employees of private corporations that hold a licence under the Act.

On 25 February this year, the ACT government announced its intention to leave Comcare. It was announced that the Territory government would conduct a six-week consultation period before taking the decision about designing a new scheme. That consultation only ended on 8 May—last Friday. Of course the design of any new scheme will take a significant period of time, and the ACT government has made a commitment to work with stakeholders—so there is no need to rush this legislation, as the Abbott government seems to be doing. Labor's first priority is to ensure— (Time expired)

Russell Broadbent (McMillan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The debate is interrupted in accordance with standing order No. 43. The debate may be resumed at a later hour and the honourable member will have leave to continue his remarks at that later hour.