❓ Opposition questions potential job losses at Synergy due to enterprise bargaining, while the Treasurer acknowledges the issue and states the responsible minister is addressing it.
AnsweredQoN 224Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SYNERGY — JOB LOSSES
The Minister for Commerce is responsible also for industrial relations and is the Treasurer. Subject to the Electricity Corporation’s Act 2005, he must agree to substantial financial decisions by Synergy before they can be implemented. (1) In those two roles, can the minister confirm that, as part of its current enterprise bargaining negotiations, Synergy has proposed shedding hundreds of Western Australian jobs from its contact centre, its information technology teams, its credit management and its customer liaison officers and relocating some of those jobs off-shore? (2) What steps has the government taken to secure these positions and ensure that Western Australians are not forced out of work at the height of a global financial crisis by a government-owned corporation? Mr T.R. BUSWELL
The Minister for Commerce is responsible also for industrial relations and is the Treasurer. Subject to the Electricity Corporation’s Act 2005, he must agree to substantial financial decisions by Synergy before they can be implemented. (1) In those two roles, can the minister confirm that, as part of its current enterprise bargaining negotiations, Synergy has proposed shedding hundreds of Western Australian jobs from its contact centre, its information technology teams, its credit management and its customer liaison officers and relocating some of those jobs off-shore? (2) What steps has the government taken to secure these positions and ensure that Western Australians are not forced out of work at the height of a global financial crisis by a government-owned corporation? Mr T.R. BUSWELL
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(2) In relation to the more general issue of the management of wages bills, both in the government trading sector and government trading enterprises, this is a very challenging time for us in reining in the rates of growth in recurrent expenditure that have been driven by wages — Mr E.S. Ripper : Complicated by your own decisions. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : By agreeing with the teachers that their enterprise bargaining agreement should be finalised? The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was a positive decision, a great step forward for Western Australia and a decision that was in part responsible for the fact that, on the first day of school this year, all teacher positions were filled. The opposition should characterise that with its own outcomes. To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
(1) In those two roles, can the minister confirm that, as part of its current enterprise bargaining negotiations, Synergy has proposed shedding hundreds of Western Australian jobs from its contact centre, its information technology teams, its credit management and its customer liaison officers and relocating some of those jobs off-shore? (2) What steps has the government taken to secure these positions and ensure that Western Australians are not forced out of work at the height of a global financial crisis by a government-owned corporation? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(2) In relation to the more general issue of the management of wages bills, both in the government trading sector and government trading enterprises, this is a very challenging time for us in reining in the rates of growth in recurrent expenditure that have been driven by wages — Mr E.S. Ripper : Complicated by your own decisions. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : By agreeing with the teachers that their enterprise bargaining agreement should be finalised? The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was a positive decision, a great step forward for Western Australia and a decision that was in part responsible for the fact that, on the first day of school this year, all teacher positions were filled. The opposition should characterise that with its own outcomes. To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
(2) What steps has the government taken to secure these positions and ensure that Western Australians are not forced out of work at the height of a global financial crisis by a government-owned corporation? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(2) In relation to the more general issue of the management of wages bills, both in the government trading sector and government trading enterprises, this is a very challenging time for us in reining in the rates of growth in recurrent expenditure that have been driven by wages — Mr E.S. Ripper : Complicated by your own decisions. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : By agreeing with the teachers that their enterprise bargaining agreement should be finalised? The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was a positive decision, a great step forward for Western Australia and a decision that was in part responsible for the fact that, on the first day of school this year, all teacher positions were filled. The opposition should characterise that with its own outcomes. To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(2) In relation to the more general issue of the management of wages bills, both in the government trading sector and government trading enterprises, this is a very challenging time for us in reining in the rates of growth in recurrent expenditure that have been driven by wages — Mr E.S. Ripper : Complicated by your own decisions. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : By agreeing with the teachers that their enterprise bargaining agreement should be finalised? The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was a positive decision, a great step forward for Western Australia and a decision that was in part responsible for the fact that, on the first day of school this year, all teacher positions were filled. The opposition should characterise that with its own outcomes. To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(2) In relation to the more general issue of the management of wages bills, both in the government trading sector and government trading enterprises, this is a very challenging time for us in reining in the rates of growth in recurrent expenditure that have been driven by wages — Mr E.S. Ripper : Complicated by your own decisions. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : By agreeing with the teachers that their enterprise bargaining agreement should be finalised? The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was a positive decision, a great step forward for Western Australia and a decision that was in part responsible for the fact that, on the first day of school this year, all teacher positions were filled. The opposition should characterise that with its own outcomes. To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
(1)-(2) In relation to the more general issue of the management of wages bills, both in the government trading sector and government trading enterprises, this is a very challenging time for us in reining in the rates of growth in recurrent expenditure that have been driven by wages — Mr E.S. Ripper : Complicated by your own decisions. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : By agreeing with the teachers that their enterprise bargaining agreement should be finalised? The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was a positive decision, a great step forward for Western Australia and a decision that was in part responsible for the fact that, on the first day of school this year, all teacher positions were filled. The opposition should characterise that with its own outcomes. To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Complicated by your own decisions. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : By agreeing with the teachers that their enterprise bargaining agreement should be finalised? The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was a positive decision, a great step forward for Western Australia and a decision that was in part responsible for the fact that, on the first day of school this year, all teacher positions were filled. The opposition should characterise that with its own outcomes. To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : By agreeing with the teachers that their enterprise bargaining agreement should be finalised? The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was a positive decision, a great step forward for Western Australia and a decision that was in part responsible for the fact that, on the first day of school this year, all teacher positions were filled. The opposition should characterise that with its own outcomes. To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was a positive decision, a great step forward for Western Australia and a decision that was in part responsible for the fact that, on the first day of school this year, all teacher positions were filled. The opposition should characterise that with its own outcomes. To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was a positive decision, a great step forward for Western Australia and a decision that was in part responsible for the fact that, on the first day of school this year, all teacher positions were filled. The opposition should characterise that with its own outcomes. To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
(1) In those two roles, can the minister confirm that, as part of its current enterprise bargaining negotiations, Synergy has proposed shedding hundreds of Western Australian jobs from its contact centre, its information technology teams, its credit management and its customer liaison officers and relocating some of those jobs off-shore? (2) What steps has the government taken to secure these positions and ensure that Western Australians are not forced out of work at the height of a global financial crisis by a government-owned corporation? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(2) In relation to the more general issue of the management of wages bills, both in the government trading sector and government trading enterprises, this is a very challenging time for us in reining in the rates of growth in recurrent expenditure that have been driven by wages — Mr E.S. Ripper : Complicated by your own decisions. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : By agreeing with the teachers that their enterprise bargaining agreement should be finalised? The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was a positive decision, a great step forward for Western Australia and a decision that was in part responsible for the fact that, on the first day of school this year, all teacher positions were filled. The opposition should characterise that with its own outcomes. To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
(2) What steps has the government taken to secure these positions and ensure that Western Australians are not forced out of work at the height of a global financial crisis by a government-owned corporation? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(2) In relation to the more general issue of the management of wages bills, both in the government trading sector and government trading enterprises, this is a very challenging time for us in reining in the rates of growth in recurrent expenditure that have been driven by wages — Mr E.S. Ripper : Complicated by your own decisions. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : By agreeing with the teachers that their enterprise bargaining agreement should be finalised? The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was a positive decision, a great step forward for Western Australia and a decision that was in part responsible for the fact that, on the first day of school this year, all teacher positions were filled. The opposition should characterise that with its own outcomes. To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(2) In relation to the more general issue of the management of wages bills, both in the government trading sector and government trading enterprises, this is a very challenging time for us in reining in the rates of growth in recurrent expenditure that have been driven by wages — Mr E.S. Ripper : Complicated by your own decisions. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : By agreeing with the teachers that their enterprise bargaining agreement should be finalised? The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was a positive decision, a great step forward for Western Australia and a decision that was in part responsible for the fact that, on the first day of school this year, all teacher positions were filled. The opposition should characterise that with its own outcomes. To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(2) In relation to the more general issue of the management of wages bills, both in the government trading sector and government trading enterprises, this is a very challenging time for us in reining in the rates of growth in recurrent expenditure that have been driven by wages — Mr E.S. Ripper : Complicated by your own decisions. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : By agreeing with the teachers that their enterprise bargaining agreement should be finalised? The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was a positive decision, a great step forward for Western Australia and a decision that was in part responsible for the fact that, on the first day of school this year, all teacher positions were filled. The opposition should characterise that with its own outcomes. To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
(1)-(2) In relation to the more general issue of the management of wages bills, both in the government trading sector and government trading enterprises, this is a very challenging time for us in reining in the rates of growth in recurrent expenditure that have been driven by wages — Mr E.S. Ripper : Complicated by your own decisions. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : By agreeing with the teachers that their enterprise bargaining agreement should be finalised? The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was a positive decision, a great step forward for Western Australia and a decision that was in part responsible for the fact that, on the first day of school this year, all teacher positions were filled. The opposition should characterise that with its own outcomes. To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Complicated by your own decisions. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : By agreeing with the teachers that their enterprise bargaining agreement should be finalised? The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was a positive decision, a great step forward for Western Australia and a decision that was in part responsible for the fact that, on the first day of school this year, all teacher positions were filled. The opposition should characterise that with its own outcomes. To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : By agreeing with the teachers that their enterprise bargaining agreement should be finalised? The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was a positive decision, a great step forward for Western Australia and a decision that was in part responsible for the fact that, on the first day of school this year, all teacher positions were filled. The opposition should characterise that with its own outcomes. To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was a positive decision, a great step forward for Western Australia and a decision that was in part responsible for the fact that, on the first day of school this year, all teacher positions were filled. The opposition should characterise that with its own outcomes. To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was a positive decision, a great step forward for Western Australia and a decision that was in part responsible for the fact that, on the first day of school this year, all teacher positions were filled. The opposition should characterise that with its own outcomes. To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
To refer to the broader issue, it is a fundamentally challenging time for the general government sector and for government trading enterprises. I am aware of the issues that the member has raised in relation to Synergy. It is my understanding that the minister responsible is discussing those issues with his department, Synergy, and I expect that he will take on board the concerns that people in Western Australia will have about the issues the Leader of the Opposition has raised.
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