Doug Cameron NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services
2:40 pm
My question is to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Payne. Can the minister confirm that despite her department sending its revised enterprise bargaining offer to the Australian Public Service Commission for approval on 27 May 2015, the APSC has still not approved the offer for presentation to the DHS single bargaining unit?
Marise Payne NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services
2:41 pm
As far as I am aware, the department continues to expect to present a further proposal to the staff in July this year.
Doug Cameron NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services
Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Has the minister raised the delay of approval with the Public Service Commissioner or with the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service? If not, why not?
Marise Payne NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services
I think, at the moment in this chamber, I represent the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service, in this context at least. But, as you would be aware, Senator, the matter was discussed at some length in the estimates process with senior officials from the department, and those discussions are ongoing.
Stephen Parry President
Senator Cameron, do you have a final supplementary question?
Doug Cameron NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services
I raise a point of order before I go to my final supplementary question.
Government senators interjecting—
Stephen Parry President
Order! On my right! What is your point of order, Senator Cameron?
Doug Cameron NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services
The minister did not go to the question that I asked, which is: did she ask about the delay? That was the question.
Stephen Parry President
Thank you, Senator Cameron. I gather the minister has concluded her answer. There is no point of order.
Doug Cameron NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services
2:42 pm
Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Isn’t the minister's agency one of the 15 agencies taking the largest industrial action by Commonwealth public servants in a generation, protesting today at the unfair cuts to pay and conditions contained in their next pay deal? Isn't the government's Public Service enterprise bargaining framework a chaotic failure for both staff and clients?
Marise Payne NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services
2:43 pm
Frankly, I reject a number of the spurious assertions in Senator Cameron's question, which are just his normal trade union spin, and we are used to all of those. But it is disappointing that the Community and Public Sector Union continues to take industrial action while we are working towards this new agreement. Despite the union claims to the contrary, the number of staff who have actually participated in industrial action in the department has been relatively low to date—
Senator Cameron interjecting—
Marise Payne NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services
and I can assure you that we have taken steps to ensure that payments will not be affected by this industrial action. We have very well-established business continuity strategies and contingency plans to address any potential disruptions and to ensure that customers can continue to access services. These strategies have been deployed on five occasions in response to previous industrious action. Of course, further industrial action is currently underway and scheduled to continue until 26 June 2015. (Time expired)