Industrial Relations

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (14:34): I seek leave to give a brief explanation before asking the Attorney-General a question about simply rocking up to work on time.

Leave granted.

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: In a newly negotiated agreement between Crane Services and the CFMEU, which was brokered by convicted domestic violence perpetrator and Labor supporter Mr John Setka, employees receive a bonus for simply turning up to work on time and wearing their correct uniform. My questions to the Attorney are:

1. Do you think it's reasonable to be paid a bonus for simply rocking up to work on time?

2. Do you think it's reasonable for small business to be paying extra for what is deemed as 'business as usual' in an employer-employee situation and getting to work on time and wearing your correct uniform and doing the work you are salaried to do?

3. Is this bonus scheme something that the Labor Party will look to introduce within the public sector awards?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Don't be baited by the Hon. Mr Wortley. Just listen to the answer to your question.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:35): Probably the most correct answer is to explain to the honourable member that the industrial relations jurisdiction for private companies has nothing at all whatsoever to do with the state, nothing at all to do with what I'm responsible to parliament for, but is entirely a creature and provenance of the commonwealth system. Now that the honourable member knows that, I'm sure she will be able to ask her questions on something that is of relevance to the South Australian parliament or on something that we have responsibility for.

However, that being said and now being convinced that the honourable member has learnt and has a better understanding of the industrial relations system in Australia, what I can say is I think it is entirely appropriate that companies—and again, companies that are entirely governed by the federal industrial relations system and those who negotiated with it—come up with agreements that they agree to, that they be a combination of conditions of different pay structures, of different pay increases, of different parts of entitlements. I think it is entirely appropriate that is up to those parties that are part of a national system to come up with a range of things that suit both parties' interest.