Enterprise Agreements

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (14:52): I approach my question with some trepidation based on the minister's response earlier, but I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question without notice to the Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector regarding enterprise bargaining for healthcare workers.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS: Today, healthcare workers, who range from hospital cleaners, transport staff and disability support officers, will be rallying outside the Premier's office and urging him to step in following months of unsuccessful negotiations for a pay rise. These workers, who earn just $58,000 to $61,000 a year, have rejected the government's latest offer, which they say doesn't provide meaningful cost-of-living relief. Speaking to InDaily, United Workers Union State Secretary Demi Pnevmatikos said:

You can't expect to attract and retain the workers you need to do the vital jobs in disability support, patient care and keeping the health, disability support and aged care systems running when you pay workers so poorly.

And the Premier can't fix ramping and other issues without fixing the pay gap that's driving workers out of hospitals, aged care, and early education.

This pay dispute is happening at a time when, according to the latest government advertising disclosure, the Malinauskas government is funding a $1.9 million advertising campaign to 'inform South Australians of the state government's improvements to the public health system' ahead of the state election.

My question to the minister, therefore, is: rather than spending $1.9 million of taxpayer money on promoting its failing health policies why isn't the Malinauskas government simply paying these workers what they are worth?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (14:54): I thank the honourable member for his question and I do acknowledge that the Hon. Rob Simms and the Greens in South Australia and, in fact I think most members of this crossbench, have continually paid much more respect to unions and the role they play than the opposition ever has.

I know the honourable member has regularly raised issues to do with workers and those who represent workers. I will answer similarly to before. As much as I appreciate the invitation from the Hon. Rob Simms to enter negotiations with him on the floor of parliament on behalf of these workers, I think the union leaders who represent these workers are slightly more effective and experienced at doing that and we will continue negotiations with them.

I can indicate that I certainly have had conversations over recent weeks with the workers the honourable member refers to and their union, the United Workers Union, and I do appreciate and acknowledge the work that those unions and that particular union, the United Workers Union, have done. In fact, I think many members of this chamber from across the political spectrum were very pleased to meet with workers that that union represents when we had sessions in Parliament House and I appreciate the union making delegates and workers in this industry available not just then but many times to meet with government representatives.

Negotiations will continue. We have settled EBs in the health sector in recent months with allied health professionals, which gave real wage rises to allied health professionals, and also with salaried medical officers, our doctors in the public system. We will continue those negotiations with respect. I note the honourable member talked about $1.9 million. One thing I can absolutely guarantee when we get to a final agreement is that the increase we see for those workers will be many, many times greater than $1.9 million; it will be a real wage rise.