❓ Mr. Wyatt questions Treasury's involvement in the doctors' EBA and the application of the government's wages policy. The Treasurer confirms Treasury's involvement, clarifies the policy's implementation date, and addresses productivity trade-offs.
AnsweredQoN 651Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS — ENTERPRISE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
651. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Treasurer:
I refer to the confirmation during the 2013 budget estimates
hearings that the Department of Treasury was not involved in the nurses'
enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations.
(1) What involvement did Treasury have in the doctors'
EBA?
(2) Why does
the wages policy, as embedded in the budget fiscal action plan, not apply to
the doctors' EBA?
(3) Have there
been any offsets in conditions for productivity as part of the doctors'
EBA; and, if so, what are they?
(4) Will productivity offsets allow pay rises above the wages
policy in the government's new policy?
651. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Treasurer:
I refer to the confirmation during the 2013 budget estimates
hearings that the Department of Treasury was not involved in the nurses'
enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations.
(1) What involvement did Treasury have in the doctors'
EBA?
(2) Why does
the wages policy, as embedded in the budget fiscal action plan, not apply to
the doctors' EBA?
(3) Have there
been any offsets in conditions for productivity as part of the doctors'
EBA; and, if so, what are they?
(4) Will productivity offsets allow pay rises above the wages
policy in the government's new policy?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4)
Treasury has had, and continues to have, involvement in the doctors'
wage negotiations. The wages policy that the government announced as part of
the fiscal action plan out of the budget was always intended to start on 1 November—and
start on 1 November it will. Changes in policy inevitably have a starting
point.
Mr M. McGowan : You're
chaotic.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
Chaotic, Leader of the Opposition? What was the Labor government's
wages policy?
Point of Order
Mr
B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, my question was in four parts, and each part
was specific. I ask that you bring the Treasurer back to answer the questions I
have put to him.
The
SPEAKER : Treasurer, do not respond to the interjection and come back
to the question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
It was, by way of contrast, neither to lead nor to follow. What on earth does
that mean?
Point of Order
Mr
B.S. WYATT : Whilst the Treasurer is asking rhetorical questions,
perhaps he could return, even on a rhetorical basis, to answering the question
about his wages policy.
The
SPEAKER : Treasurer, come back to the answer, please.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
The second part of the question related to the government's wages
policy. I was merely reflecting on what did not exist previously. Compared with
what did not exist previously, the wages policy is that for agreements up until
1 November, the offer will be at the consumer price index, with the capacity to
move up to the wholesale price index with some productivity trade-offs.
Inevitably, there was going to be a time when that policy ceased and the new
policy at CPI came into effect, and that happens to be 1 November. It is not a
secret. It was discussed at the time of the budget. It is an entirely
predictable outcome. In many ways, there was always going to be a last set of
enterprise bargaining agreements that were dealt with under the last policy and
the first EBA dealt with under the new policy. The doctors' EBA is not
the only one which we have not yet resolved and to which the old wages policy
will apply. I think some work is also being done in and around railcar drivers.
Mr M. McGowan : It
was two days ago.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
But the EBA has expired and the negotiations have been going on for some time.
I think it is an entirely logical progression from one policy to the next.
The third part of the question related to whether there will
be productivity trade-offs. The answer is yes, there will be. The member asked
what they are. I am not going to disclose those because the negotiations are
not yet concluded.
The fourth part of the question was —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Are
you willing to consider increases above CPI with your new wages policy?
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
The answer to that question is no.
Treasury has had, and continues to have, involvement in the doctors'
wage negotiations. The wages policy that the government announced as part of
the fiscal action plan out of the budget was always intended to start on 1 November—and
start on 1 November it will. Changes in policy inevitably have a starting
point.
Mr M. McGowan : You're
chaotic.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
Chaotic, Leader of the Opposition? What was the Labor government's
wages policy?
Point of Order
Mr
B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, my question was in four parts, and each part
was specific. I ask that you bring the Treasurer back to answer the questions I
have put to him.
The
SPEAKER : Treasurer, do not respond to the interjection and come back
to the question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
It was, by way of contrast, neither to lead nor to follow. What on earth does
that mean?
Point of Order
Mr
B.S. WYATT : Whilst the Treasurer is asking rhetorical questions,
perhaps he could return, even on a rhetorical basis, to answering the question
about his wages policy.
The
SPEAKER : Treasurer, come back to the answer, please.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
The second part of the question related to the government's wages
policy. I was merely reflecting on what did not exist previously. Compared with
what did not exist previously, the wages policy is that for agreements up until
1 November, the offer will be at the consumer price index, with the capacity to
move up to the wholesale price index with some productivity trade-offs.
Inevitably, there was going to be a time when that policy ceased and the new
policy at CPI came into effect, and that happens to be 1 November. It is not a
secret. It was discussed at the time of the budget. It is an entirely
predictable outcome. In many ways, there was always going to be a last set of
enterprise bargaining agreements that were dealt with under the last policy and
the first EBA dealt with under the new policy. The doctors' EBA is not
the only one which we have not yet resolved and to which the old wages policy
will apply. I think some work is also being done in and around railcar drivers.
Mr M. McGowan : It
was two days ago.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
But the EBA has expired and the negotiations have been going on for some time.
I think it is an entirely logical progression from one policy to the next.
The third part of the question related to whether there will
be productivity trade-offs. The answer is yes, there will be. The member asked
what they are. I am not going to disclose those because the negotiations are
not yet concluded.
The fourth part of the question was —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Are
you willing to consider increases above CPI with your new wages policy?
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
The answer to that question is no.
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