❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the WA government's position on the Federal Government's Work Choices legislation and its impact on small businesses in Western Australia. The Minister's answer is critical of Work Choices, deeming it overly complex and burdensome for small businesses.
AnsweredQoN 820Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Does the Government support the Federal Government’s new workplace relations system, Work Choices?
(2) If not, is the Government satisfied with workplace relations in the small business sector at the moment?
(3) Is the Federal Government’s new workplace relations system, Work Choices, beneficial to small businesses in Western Australia?
(4) Can the Minister outline how the new workplace relations system will benefit or hinder small businesses in Western Australia, in particular -
(a) what provisions of the new Work Choices system will benefit small businesses in Western Australia;
(i) why;
(b) what provisions of the new Work Choices system will disadvantage small businesses in Western Australia;
(i) why?
(5) Will the Work Choices system give small businesses the labour flexibility they require to be more competitive in the global marketplace?
(2) If not, is the Government satisfied with workplace relations in the small business sector at the moment?
(3) Is the Federal Government’s new workplace relations system, Work Choices, beneficial to small businesses in Western Australia?
(4) Can the Minister outline how the new workplace relations system will benefit or hinder small businesses in Western Australia, in particular -
(a) what provisions of the new Work Choices system will benefit small businesses in Western Australia;
(i) why;
(b) what provisions of the new Work Choices system will disadvantage small businesses in Western Australia;
(i) why?
(5) Will the Work Choices system give small businesses the labour flexibility they require to be more competitive in the global marketplace?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 May 2006
Responded by
Minister for Small Business
Response time
27 days
(2) - (5) The current State Industrial Relations system serves small businesses well. By contrast, the Federal Government's extreme new industrial relations changes do nothing to build workplace productivity or make Australia more internationally competitive. All they have done is wrap small business up in an unnecessary layer of red tape. The changes have everything to do with an ideological desire to reduce wages, slash conditions and entitlements, and remove safety nets. And in doing so, the Federal Government is making life more complex and complicated for small business. The Work Choices Regulations are extremely confusing. There is clear evidence that many business owners and operators - both small and big - have little understanding of the Work Choices system, their obligations under the system, and the likely impacts for their businesses. The task of coming to terms with Work Choices is an unnecessary burden for business operators who just want to get on with running their business. Under Work Choices , record-keeping requirements for small businesses are extremely onerous. For example, employers covered by Work Choices are required under Regulation 19.9 to record the hours worked and starting and finishing times for all employees. This represents a virtual throwback to the days of the punch card time clock! I am glad the Member for Carine has sought clarification from me on the new Work Choices system. I understand the Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations is still trying to understand the ramifications of what he has imposed on small business in Australia.
The changes have everything to do with an ideological desire to reduce wages, slash conditions and entitlements, and remove safety nets. And in doing so, the Federal Government is making life more complex and complicated for small business. The Work Choices Regulations are extremely confusing. There is clear evidence that many business owners and operators - both small and big - have little understanding of the Work Choices system, their obligations under the system, and the likely impacts for their businesses. The task of coming to terms with Work Choices is an unnecessary burden for business operators who just want to get on with running their business. Under Work Choices , record-keeping requirements for small businesses are extremely onerous. For example, employers covered by Work Choices are required under Regulation 19.9 to record the hours worked and starting and finishing times for all employees. This represents a virtual throwback to the days of the punch card time clock! I am glad the Member for Carine has sought clarification from me on the new Work Choices system. I understand the Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations is still trying to understand the ramifications of what he has imposed on small business in Australia.
The Work Choices Regulations are extremely confusing. There is clear evidence that many business owners and operators - both small and big - have little understanding of the Work Choices system, their obligations under the system, and the likely impacts for their businesses. The task of coming to terms with Work Choices is an unnecessary burden for business operators who just want to get on with running their business. Under Work Choices , record-keeping requirements for small businesses are extremely onerous. For example, employers covered by Work Choices are required under Regulation 19.9 to record the hours worked and starting and finishing times for all employees. This represents a virtual throwback to the days of the punch card time clock! I am glad the Member for Carine has sought clarification from me on the new Work Choices system. I understand the Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations is still trying to understand the ramifications of what he has imposed on small business in Australia.
Under Work Choices , record-keeping requirements for small businesses are extremely onerous. For example, employers covered by Work Choices are required under Regulation 19.9 to record the hours worked and starting and finishing times for all employees. This represents a virtual throwback to the days of the punch card time clock! I am glad the Member for Carine has sought clarification from me on the new Work Choices system. I understand the Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations is still trying to understand the ramifications of what he has imposed on small business in Australia.
I am glad the Member for Carine has sought clarification from me on the new Work Choices system. I understand the Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations is still trying to understand the ramifications of what he has imposed on small business in Australia.
The changes have everything to do with an ideological desire to reduce wages, slash conditions and entitlements, and remove safety nets. And in doing so, the Federal Government is making life more complex and complicated for small business. The Work Choices Regulations are extremely confusing. There is clear evidence that many business owners and operators - both small and big - have little understanding of the Work Choices system, their obligations under the system, and the likely impacts for their businesses. The task of coming to terms with Work Choices is an unnecessary burden for business operators who just want to get on with running their business. Under Work Choices , record-keeping requirements for small businesses are extremely onerous. For example, employers covered by Work Choices are required under Regulation 19.9 to record the hours worked and starting and finishing times for all employees. This represents a virtual throwback to the days of the punch card time clock! I am glad the Member for Carine has sought clarification from me on the new Work Choices system. I understand the Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations is still trying to understand the ramifications of what he has imposed on small business in Australia.
The Work Choices Regulations are extremely confusing. There is clear evidence that many business owners and operators - both small and big - have little understanding of the Work Choices system, their obligations under the system, and the likely impacts for their businesses. The task of coming to terms with Work Choices is an unnecessary burden for business operators who just want to get on with running their business. Under Work Choices , record-keeping requirements for small businesses are extremely onerous. For example, employers covered by Work Choices are required under Regulation 19.9 to record the hours worked and starting and finishing times for all employees. This represents a virtual throwback to the days of the punch card time clock! I am glad the Member for Carine has sought clarification from me on the new Work Choices system. I understand the Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations is still trying to understand the ramifications of what he has imposed on small business in Australia.
Under Work Choices , record-keeping requirements for small businesses are extremely onerous. For example, employers covered by Work Choices are required under Regulation 19.9 to record the hours worked and starting and finishing times for all employees. This represents a virtual throwback to the days of the punch card time clock! I am glad the Member for Carine has sought clarification from me on the new Work Choices system. I understand the Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations is still trying to understand the ramifications of what he has imposed on small business in Australia.
I am glad the Member for Carine has sought clarification from me on the new Work Choices system. I understand the Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations is still trying to understand the ramifications of what he has imposed on small business in Australia.
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