Senate debates

Monday, 17 September 2012

Questions on Notice

Budget Estimates: Question No. EW0041_13 (Question No. 2144)

Photo of Eric AbetzEric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 7 September 2012:

With reference to the answer provided to question no. EW0041_13, taken on notice during the 2012–13 Budget estimates hearing of the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee:

(1) Can a full and relevant answer to the question be provided.

(2) What policies have union bosses advocated to the Minister.

(3) Are any of these policies currently under active consideration by the Government.

(4) Why is a full list of policies unable to be provided.

Photo of Penny WongPenny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | | Hansard source

The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

The answer provided in response to EW0041_13 was full and relevant in the context of the speech that the Honourable Senator referred to in his question.

The union movement advocates a large number of policies across a range of economic and social issues. Policies advocated by the union movement are publicly available on the websites of the ACTU and its affiliated unions and in submissions by the ACTU and its affiliated unions to various Government reviews and Parliamentary Committee inquiries. My Department does not maintain a list of these policies.

The Government is currently considering the report of the independent Fair Work Review. I will not comment on what policies may, or may not, be under active consideration by the Government.