Question regarding the Premier's support for Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) in the mining industry. The Premier expresses concern about exploitation in other sectors but not the mining industry, advocating for a fair and flexible industrial relations system.

AnsweredQoN 365Legislative Assembly
Asked
20 June 2006
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

AUSTRALIAN WORKPLACE AGREEMENTS - MINING INDUSTRY
I have a supplementary question. Does the Premier support AWAs in the mining industry? Mr A.J. CARPENTER

AnswerView source ↗

I support what Kim Beazley is driving at here; that is, we want to establish an industrial relations regime that is fair and flexible and does not allow exploitation. We already have in Western Australia, under our initiative - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I do not believe there is exploitation in the mining industry. I am concerned about some areas in our economy, such as the cleaning industry, and the security industry with its security guards and so on, where people are already on low wages and face the risk, under an AWA regime as it currently stands, of having their wages and conditions further eroded. What we want is an industrial relations system in Western Australia, and Australia, that allows flexibility but does not allow people to be exploited.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I support what Kim Beazley is driving at here; that is, we want to establish an industrial relations regime that is fair and flexible and does not allow exploitation. We already have in Western Australia, under our initiative - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I do not believe there is exploitation in the mining industry. I am concerned about some areas in our economy, such as the cleaning industry, and the security industry with its security guards and so on, where people are already on low wages and face the risk, under an AWA regime as it currently stands, of having their wages and conditions further eroded. What we want is an industrial relations system in Western Australia, and Australia, that allows flexibility but does not allow people to be exploited.
I support what Kim Beazley is driving at here; that is, we want to establish an industrial relations regime that is fair and flexible and does not allow exploitation. We already have in Western Australia, under our initiative - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I do not believe there is exploitation in the mining industry. I am concerned about some areas in our economy, such as the cleaning industry, and the security industry with its security guards and so on, where people are already on low wages and face the risk, under an AWA regime as it currently stands, of having their wages and conditions further eroded. What we want is an industrial relations system in Western Australia, and Australia, that allows flexibility but does not allow people to be exploited.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I do not believe there is exploitation in the mining industry. I am concerned about some areas in our economy, such as the cleaning industry, and the security industry with its security guards and so on, where people are already on low wages and face the risk, under an AWA regime as it currently stands, of having their wages and conditions further eroded. What we want is an industrial relations system in Western Australia, and Australia, that allows flexibility but does not allow people to be exploited.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I do not believe there is exploitation in the mining industry. I am concerned about some areas in our economy, such as the cleaning industry, and the security industry with its security guards and so on, where people are already on low wages and face the risk, under an AWA regime as it currently stands, of having their wages and conditions further eroded. What we want is an industrial relations system in Western Australia, and Australia, that allows flexibility but does not allow people to be exploited.

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