Zaneta Mascarenhas (Swan, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. What consultation with the business community has the minister and his department engaged in as part of the development of the secure jobs, better pay legislation?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to thank two Western Australians. I want to thank the member for Swan and I want to thank Senator Cash. Senator Cash, in an interview on Sky News with Kieran Gilbert, was asked specifically about consultation with business. She set this test for the government: 'If the government were listening, they would have consulted with the job creators in this country before they introduced the legislation.' That was the test. I thought, 'Let's just go back through and work out what consultation was done with business prior to the introduction of the bill.' Senator Cash and some of those opposite in the debate have said absolutely nothing. I guess it's a bit like the old thing with the Romans: absolutely nothing—except for!

There was consultation with the BCA, with ACCI, with Ai Group, with COSBOA, with Clubs Australia, with the MBA, with the NFF, with AREEA, with the ACAPMA, with the manufacturing installation association and with individual employers, such as Qantas or Team Global Express, formerly known as Toll Group.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Groom is warned.

The member for Groom will leave the chamber under 94(a)

The member for Groom then left the chamber.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Consultation included alliances such as Migrant Women in Business, the Harmony Alliance: Migrant and Refugee Women for Change, the National Rural Women's Coalition, Woman with Disabilities Australia and the YWCA Canberra.

Then, for introduction, we had the committee on industrial legislation, including the Business Council of Australia, the Housing Industry Association, the National Farmers Federation, the Master Builders, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, the Australian Industry Group and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. I will acknowledge that Steve Knott from AMMA was not there at that meeting, but he was invited and didn't turn up.

We then had the consultation which has occurred since the introduction of the bill, which I've spoken about publicly before, including with the BCA, Ai Group, COSBOA, ACCI and individual employers, again, including Woolworths. We then have the process that continues with the Senate inquiry. Those opposite have been critical of the Senate inquiry process, which is more thorough than what happened for the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2021. It's more thorough, in fact, than any legislation, and I've got the list here: their respect at work bill; their registered organisations, ensuring integrity bill; their proper use of worker benefits bill; their casual conversion bill; their pay protection bill; their four-yearly reviews and other measures; their corrupting benefits bill—the list goes on. It is the most consultative process that has happened for a decade.

Those opposite simply have to acknowledge, in every criticism they have, that what they did was less. So except for all the consultation that happened before introduction, all the consultation that's happened since introduction and all the consultation that will continue—apart from all that, absolutely nothing.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Wannon will cease interjecting.