Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

The sole purpose of this bill is to extend the operation of the Long Service Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Act coverage of Telstra employees for a period of three years from the day on which the Commonwealth ceases to have a controlling interest in Telstra.

The bill is purely facilitative, allowing Telstra and its national workforce of about 40,000 an adequate period to conclude agreed post sale long service leave arrangements.

I can advise the chamber that this proposal enjoys the support of Telstra and should be welcomed by Telstra employees and the relevant unions.

Telstra employees currently accrue long service leave entitlements under the Long Service Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Act 1976.

The Telstra (Transition to Full Private Ownership) Act 2005 (the transition act) already protects pre-privatisation long service leave entitlements accrued by Telstra employees. That will not change.

In the circumstances, it is not unreasonable to allow Telstra and those employees who have not yet concluded other arrangements a sensible time frame to first consider and then make long service leave arrangements that will best suit their needs post privatisation.

Accordingly, the bill extends the long service leave legislative guarantee provided for under the transition act for a period of three years. This approach is consistent with government policy of minimising the impact of privatisations on former Commonwealth employees. I commend the bill to the House.

Debate (on motion by Mr Crean) adjourned.