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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-06-15 Daily Xml
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Industrial Relations Reform

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:09): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking questions of the Minister for Industrial Relations regarding his consultation with industry groups in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: Numerous peak industry bodies, including the Business Council of Australia, the Master Builders Association, the National Farmers' Federation, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, among others, have joined forces to raise concerns with the Albanese government's proposed Same Job, Same Pay reforms.

These bodies are questioning the industrial relations plans held by the current federal government due to concerns that it will restrict the ability for effort and experience to be rewarded, that it may deter local investment and potentially negatively impact sectors that are highly dependent on subcontractors and independent contractors. My questions to the minister are:

1. Has the minister consulted with South Australian industry leaders with regard to the Same Job, Same Pay reforms that are proposed and what has been their feedback to him and if he hasn't, when does he intend to do so?

2. Will the minister make representation to his federal counterpart on behalf of the South Australian business and representative bodies to ensure their positions on this matter are adequately considered and represented to the federal government?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:10): I thank the honourable member for his question. He is, of course, referring to something that I don't have any ministerial control over, and that is the federal industrial relations system. I think there was an announcement from last week, the Same Job, Same Pay, as part of the second tranche of industrial relations reforms that the federal Labor government has embarked upon. Unashamedly, the federal Labor government looks to make sure that workers are protected as much as they can be and are fairly rewarded for the work and labour that they provide.

I will check, but I don't recall having had representations to me as the state Minister for Industrial Relations about the Same Job, Same Pay announcement from industry groups but, as I say, I will check. If I remember correctly, the federal policy that the honourable member refers to was only announced towards the end of last week.

Certainly, I regularly have representations made to me at meetings I attend of various industry groups around South Australia. I have been very fortunate to attend many meetings, lunch meetings and forums, where I have been the guest speaker at those industry groups: the Australian industry association SA branch, Business SA, Master Builders Association, MTA, and a whole range of industry groups in South Australia where I have benefited, and I think the government has benefited, from a pretty free exchange of views, ideas and representations.

I am sure, as I continue these regular meetings, if there are concerns that various industry groups have with not just state policy but, in my experience, if there are concerns about federal policy, they are occasionally raised. I don't recall seeing anything from an industry group about an announcement. However, it was about last Thursday, I think, that the announcement came so it's only a week since the announcement. I am sure if there are concerns, in my very regular consultations I have with industry groups, they will be raised with me.

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