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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-02-16 Daily Xml
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WORKING HOURS

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:56): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Industrial Relations a question regarding employment conditions for the public and private sector in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: It has come to the attention of Family First, through some information garnered from a number of constituents and other sources, that there are some people in our state working up to 19½ hours continually, in one single block if you like. These are typically people who work under what is called 'call-back arrangements'; that is, they have a particular shift, and they may be called back to work, or it is extended with very short notice. They are often not aware that they are going to be expected to work that sort of time—as I have said, in one particular example, up to 19½ hours consecutively.

Obviously, they do have meal breaks, and that is included in that time. Nonetheless, I am sure members would agree that it is a very, very long time for anyone to work. I raise that question to bring the matter to the minister's attention, but I also ask whether the minister would like to comment on his attitude to that.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:57): I thank the honourable member for his important question. First of all, the information the honourable member has given me is quite scant. I understand the context of what he is saying, but I will seek to find out whether that occurs in the public sector.

In relation to my views on it, naturally, my views are that working a 19-hour stint is far too long. But, once again, I need to know the circumstances behind all of this, so I will try to check the details, but there are many agencies. Can the honourable member let me know the agency where this happened?

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: Yes, I can.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Great.

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