Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before moving business of the Senate notice of motion No. 4, I wish to inform the chamber that Senators Patrick will also sponsor the motion. I, and also on behalf of Senators Farrell and all other opposition senators, and Senators Lambie, Faruqi, Siewert and Patrick, move:

That the Fair Work Amendment (Variation of Enterprise Agreements) Regulations 2020, made under the Fair Work Act 2009, be disallowed [F2020L00432].

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This regulation amends the formal access period applicable to a variation for an enterprise agreement to allow flexibility to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Employees retain the right to vote on any proposal. An agreement varied in this way must still pass the better-off-overall test, and the Fair Work Commission must still be satisfied that the variation was genuinely agreed. The government has not been made aware of any instances of misuse and has in any case committed to review the operation of the regulation in coming weeks to ensure this continues to be the case.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that business of the Senate motion No. 4 be agreed to.