SENATOR THE HON.
ERIC ABETZ
Leader of the Government in the Senate Minister for Employment Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service Liberal Senator for Tasmania
TRANSCRIPT
ABC AM program Interview with Employment Minister, Senator Eric Abetz
AM PROGRAMME FRIDAY 7 MARCH 2014 ** Fair Work Act and interview with the Employment Minister Presenter: Labors Fair Work Act is set to be reviewed by the economic hard heads at the Productivity Commission and this morning there are the first signs of just how sweeping that inquiry will be. Fairfax Medias published the inquirys draft Terms of Reference and they include examining penalty rates, pay and conditions, unfair dismissal, enterprise bargaining flexibility and union militancy. But the report says the inquiry is to be framed around fair and equitable pay and conditions for employees, including maintaining a relevant safety net. Eric Abetz is the Employment Minister. Eric Abetz, can you tell us what is in the Productivity Commission inquirys Terms of Reference? Can you confirm that it will include penalty rates, pay and condition, enterprise bargaining and the like? Minister Abetz: What we said in our policy, we are not doing anything more, were not doing anything less other than undertaking a comprehensive and broad review of the laws and a thorough analysis which is exactly what we promised and we said we would task the Productivity Commission with doing that. That is what we are going to do and I would simply remind your listeners that it was the Productivity Commission that recommended the National Disability Insurance Scheme, showing that the Productivity Commission is both economically robust and socially sensitive. Labor promised to have a review but they only had a Claytons review, so we went to the people at the last election promising a thorough review and that is what well do. Presenter: Certainly, but the Terms of Reference have been distributed to the states as you say and they now have been leaked at least the draft Terms of Reference and on seeing them, the ACTU President, Ged Kearney has said the Government appears to be putting the entire workplace relations system on trial. Is that a fair comment? Minister Abetz: What were doing is giving an independent body that has a reputation for social sensitivity and economy robustness the opportunity to advise as to future direction for workplace relations laws. So that will allow organisations like the ACTU to have full input into the future direction and might I add, the ACTU has been part of the consultation process
Presenter: And is, as they say, everything up for grabs - awards, penalty rates, enterprise bargaining, protection from unfair dismissal? Minister Abetz: As you would be aware Im not in a position to pre-empt what is going to be in the Terms of Reference other than to say we did promise a comprehensive and broad review of the laws. Presenter: We do see a growing drum beat from business and indeed your own backbench thats calling from penalty rate relief and its calling for it now, isnt it? Minister Abetz: Look, there is a growing demand that we have a look at certain aspects of our workplace relations laws, might I add, joined in by Paul Howes from the Australian Workers Union and a former president of the ACTU, Martin Ferguson. And so, a number of Labor and union officials are starting to realise that the Labor governments previous reviews of the Fair Work Act simply didnt do the job and we are now undertaking that, which the former Labor government shouldve done. Presenter: Now this Productivity Commission inquiry is due to report back in April 2015 - the Federal election of course is not due until about August 2016. Is there any prospect that the Government will do anything from this report before the next election? Minister Abetz: The Coalition has been very clear that all that we will seek to do in this term of government is to implement our policy. Any proposals that might arise from the Productivity Commission review will be considered and if we adopt them, we will take them as part of our policy platform to the next election. Presenter: Employment Minister, Eric Abetz.
