❓ A parliamentary question regarding workplace bullying claims linked to WorkChoices legislation and the existence of prevention plans within the Department of Premier and Cabinet. The Minister's response focuses on the negative impacts of AWAs and allegations of coercion.
AnsweredQoN 259Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WORKPLACE BULLYING
I acknowledge the students and teachers from Helena College in the public gallery. Welcome to Parliament. I refer to the WorkChoices legislation and the Australian Council of Trade Unions’ scaremongering campaign that suggests that employees have been bullied and intimidated into signing workplace agreements. (1) Is the minister aware of any claims of workplace bullying and harassment that can be directly attributed to WorkChoices legislation? (2) Does the Department of the Premier and Cabinet have any specific prevention plan or policy for workplace bullying, and is there a requirement to officially record incidents of workplace bullying and harassment? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS
I acknowledge the students and teachers from Helena College in the public gallery. Welcome to Parliament. I refer to the WorkChoices legislation and the Australian Council of Trade Unions’ scaremongering campaign that suggests that employees have been bullied and intimidated into signing workplace agreements. (1) Is the minister aware of any claims of workplace bullying and harassment that can be directly attributed to WorkChoices legislation? (2) Does the Department of the Premier and Cabinet have any specific prevention plan or policy for workplace bullying, and is there a requirement to officially record incidents of workplace bullying and harassment? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) It was rather difficult to hear the question, but I think I have the general tenor of it. There is a lot of evidence of Australian workplace agreements being bad for workers. I am actually quite surprised that the member for Murray asked this question today, given the allegations that were aired on the 7.30 Report last night. I understand a petition was signed by some 200 employees, and a number of individual workers have come forward and spoken about their concerns about workplace safety as a result of being on AWAs. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
I refer to the WorkChoices legislation and the Australian Council of Trade Unions’ scaremongering campaign that suggests that employees have been bullied and intimidated into signing workplace agreements. (1) Is the minister aware of any claims of workplace bullying and harassment that can be directly attributed to WorkChoices legislation? (2) Does the Department of the Premier and Cabinet have any specific prevention plan or policy for workplace bullying, and is there a requirement to officially record incidents of workplace bullying and harassment? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) It was rather difficult to hear the question, but I think I have the general tenor of it. There is a lot of evidence of Australian workplace agreements being bad for workers. I am actually quite surprised that the member for Murray asked this question today, given the allegations that were aired on the 7.30 Report last night. I understand a petition was signed by some 200 employees, and a number of individual workers have come forward and spoken about their concerns about workplace safety as a result of being on AWAs. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
(1) Is the minister aware of any claims of workplace bullying and harassment that can be directly attributed to WorkChoices legislation? (2) Does the Department of the Premier and Cabinet have any specific prevention plan or policy for workplace bullying, and is there a requirement to officially record incidents of workplace bullying and harassment? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) It was rather difficult to hear the question, but I think I have the general tenor of it. There is a lot of evidence of Australian workplace agreements being bad for workers. I am actually quite surprised that the member for Murray asked this question today, given the allegations that were aired on the 7.30 Report last night. I understand a petition was signed by some 200 employees, and a number of individual workers have come forward and spoken about their concerns about workplace safety as a result of being on AWAs. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
(2) Does the Department of the Premier and Cabinet have any specific prevention plan or policy for workplace bullying, and is there a requirement to officially record incidents of workplace bullying and harassment? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) It was rather difficult to hear the question, but I think I have the general tenor of it. There is a lot of evidence of Australian workplace agreements being bad for workers. I am actually quite surprised that the member for Murray asked this question today, given the allegations that were aired on the 7.30 Report last night. I understand a petition was signed by some 200 employees, and a number of individual workers have come forward and spoken about their concerns about workplace safety as a result of being on AWAs. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) It was rather difficult to hear the question, but I think I have the general tenor of it. There is a lot of evidence of Australian workplace agreements being bad for workers. I am actually quite surprised that the member for Murray asked this question today, given the allegations that were aired on the 7.30 Report last night. I understand a petition was signed by some 200 employees, and a number of individual workers have come forward and spoken about their concerns about workplace safety as a result of being on AWAs. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) It was rather difficult to hear the question, but I think I have the general tenor of it. There is a lot of evidence of Australian workplace agreements being bad for workers. I am actually quite surprised that the member for Murray asked this question today, given the allegations that were aired on the 7.30 Report last night. I understand a petition was signed by some 200 employees, and a number of individual workers have come forward and spoken about their concerns about workplace safety as a result of being on AWAs. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) It was rather difficult to hear the question, but I think I have the general tenor of it. There is a lot of evidence of Australian workplace agreements being bad for workers. I am actually quite surprised that the member for Murray asked this question today, given the allegations that were aired on the 7.30 Report last night. I understand a petition was signed by some 200 employees, and a number of individual workers have come forward and spoken about their concerns about workplace safety as a result of being on AWAs. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
(1)-(2) It was rather difficult to hear the question, but I think I have the general tenor of it. There is a lot of evidence of Australian workplace agreements being bad for workers. I am actually quite surprised that the member for Murray asked this question today, given the allegations that were aired on the 7.30 Report last night. I understand a petition was signed by some 200 employees, and a number of individual workers have come forward and spoken about their concerns about workplace safety as a result of being on AWAs. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
I refer to the WorkChoices legislation and the Australian Council of Trade Unions’ scaremongering campaign that suggests that employees have been bullied and intimidated into signing workplace agreements. (1) Is the minister aware of any claims of workplace bullying and harassment that can be directly attributed to WorkChoices legislation? (2) Does the Department of the Premier and Cabinet have any specific prevention plan or policy for workplace bullying, and is there a requirement to officially record incidents of workplace bullying and harassment? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) It was rather difficult to hear the question, but I think I have the general tenor of it. There is a lot of evidence of Australian workplace agreements being bad for workers. I am actually quite surprised that the member for Murray asked this question today, given the allegations that were aired on the 7.30 Report last night. I understand a petition was signed by some 200 employees, and a number of individual workers have come forward and spoken about their concerns about workplace safety as a result of being on AWAs. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
(1) Is the minister aware of any claims of workplace bullying and harassment that can be directly attributed to WorkChoices legislation? (2) Does the Department of the Premier and Cabinet have any specific prevention plan or policy for workplace bullying, and is there a requirement to officially record incidents of workplace bullying and harassment? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) It was rather difficult to hear the question, but I think I have the general tenor of it. There is a lot of evidence of Australian workplace agreements being bad for workers. I am actually quite surprised that the member for Murray asked this question today, given the allegations that were aired on the 7.30 Report last night. I understand a petition was signed by some 200 employees, and a number of individual workers have come forward and spoken about their concerns about workplace safety as a result of being on AWAs. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
(2) Does the Department of the Premier and Cabinet have any specific prevention plan or policy for workplace bullying, and is there a requirement to officially record incidents of workplace bullying and harassment? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) It was rather difficult to hear the question, but I think I have the general tenor of it. There is a lot of evidence of Australian workplace agreements being bad for workers. I am actually quite surprised that the member for Murray asked this question today, given the allegations that were aired on the 7.30 Report last night. I understand a petition was signed by some 200 employees, and a number of individual workers have come forward and spoken about their concerns about workplace safety as a result of being on AWAs. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) It was rather difficult to hear the question, but I think I have the general tenor of it. There is a lot of evidence of Australian workplace agreements being bad for workers. I am actually quite surprised that the member for Murray asked this question today, given the allegations that were aired on the 7.30 Report last night. I understand a petition was signed by some 200 employees, and a number of individual workers have come forward and spoken about their concerns about workplace safety as a result of being on AWAs. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) It was rather difficult to hear the question, but I think I have the general tenor of it. There is a lot of evidence of Australian workplace agreements being bad for workers. I am actually quite surprised that the member for Murray asked this question today, given the allegations that were aired on the 7.30 Report last night. I understand a petition was signed by some 200 employees, and a number of individual workers have come forward and spoken about their concerns about workplace safety as a result of being on AWAs. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) It was rather difficult to hear the question, but I think I have the general tenor of it. There is a lot of evidence of Australian workplace agreements being bad for workers. I am actually quite surprised that the member for Murray asked this question today, given the allegations that were aired on the 7.30 Report last night. I understand a petition was signed by some 200 employees, and a number of individual workers have come forward and spoken about their concerns about workplace safety as a result of being on AWAs. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
(1)-(2) It was rather difficult to hear the question, but I think I have the general tenor of it. There is a lot of evidence of Australian workplace agreements being bad for workers. I am actually quite surprised that the member for Murray asked this question today, given the allegations that were aired on the 7.30 Report last night. I understand a petition was signed by some 200 employees, and a number of individual workers have come forward and spoken about their concerns about workplace safety as a result of being on AWAs. Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
Ms S.E. Walker interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Nedlands to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Claims were made that people would not be able to get a job with BHP Billiton unless they signed AWAs. A range of very concerning allegations were made on the 7.30 Report , and I have been engaged with my department today on those claims. They are very serious claims if they are true, and they need to be investigated. AWAs have generally led to exploitative arrangements in other sectors, more particularly retail and hospitality, but the concern, until now, has not been focused on the mining industry, in which people are paid well above award wages and the like. I think that adds to the concerns. There is quite a history of people in retail and hospitality coming forward right around Australia because of what has occurred in those industries. People have been required to give up a range of protections. We know from what has come out of the federal office that 100 per cent of AWAs exclude at least one protective condition; 63 per cent of AWAs remove penalty rates; 52 per cent remove shift work loadings; and 22 per cent do not provide for pay increases over the life of the agreements. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call the member for Dawesville to order for the first time. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The government does not support AWAs. It supports Kevin Rudd and federal Labor in wanting to abolish AWAs, because they strip away the rights and conditions of ordinary working Australians. Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
Mr J.H.D. Day : That depends on where you live. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is exactly the same as the federal leader has said, so the member for Darling Range has got that wrong. We want a fair and accessible industrial relations system, and I expect that we will see that if Kevin Rudd is elected later this year.
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