❓ Minister Kobelke expresses concerns about the Howard government's proposed industrial relations changes, arguing they will negatively impact small businesses by forcing them into the federal system and restricting their operational choices.
AnsweredQoN 668Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Can the minister advise the house on the implications for small business of the changes the federal government is proposing to make to its industrial relations system? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. Members are becoming very well aware of the real threat to the conditions of workers in this state and across Australia from the Howard government. However, I do not think small business has actually twigged to the real risk that many small businesses will confront. The Howard government’s IR changes will mean that incorporated small businesses will have to move into the new federal arena - they will have no choice - through the use of the commonwealth legislation. Mr T.R. Buswell : They are there now. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : They are not, in fact. Most of them come under state legislation. The actual bill has very complex processes for that conversion. That will mean that small businesses, particularly very small businesses, will have to cope with the complexity of being pulled by the commonwealth into the federal system. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Then there are the unincorporated small businesses, which the federal government will try to drive into the federal system and force to be incorporated. They will have to pick up an additional cost of $2 000 to $3 000 a year, perhaps, to make sure they are incorporated, whether they want to go into the federal system or not. Thirdly, the federal government, which has talked for a long time about giving choice and about freeing up the system, is now trying to put the straitjacket on small businesses that they will have to conform to exactly what the federal government says and they will have to comply with all those details. Therefore, if a successful small business that has a unionised work force wants to put into its agreement that it will allow deductions, that will not be allowed by the federal government. It will not have the choice to make union deductions part of its agreement; and, if it does do that deal, it will be liable to prosecution under the federal legislation. That is just one example of the many areas in which the federal government is dictating to small businesses that they cannot run their businesses in a way that suits them and their employees but will have to jump to the tune that the federal government is playing. Further, many small businesses may find that the cost of the current industrial relations system is an issue. However, they will find it a lot cheaper and easier than fighting disputes through the civil jurisdiction, with all the costs that go along with that. On a range of scores, many small businesses will find that there is a real sting in the tail of the Howard government changes, and they will cop the cost of it.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. Members are becoming very well aware of the real threat to the conditions of workers in this state and across Australia from the Howard government. However, I do not think small business has actually twigged to the real risk that many small businesses will confront. The Howard government’s IR changes will mean that incorporated small businesses will have to move into the new federal arena - they will have no choice - through the use of the commonwealth legislation. Mr T.R. Buswell : They are there now. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : They are not, in fact. Most of them come under state legislation. The actual bill has very complex processes for that conversion. That will mean that small businesses, particularly very small businesses, will have to cope with the complexity of being pulled by the commonwealth into the federal system. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Then there are the unincorporated small businesses, which the federal government will try to drive into the federal system and force to be incorporated. They will have to pick up an additional cost of $2 000 to $3 000 a year, perhaps, to make sure they are incorporated, whether they want to go into the federal system or not. Thirdly, the federal government, which has talked for a long time about giving choice and about freeing up the system, is now trying to put the straitjacket on small businesses that they will have to conform to exactly what the federal government says and they will have to comply with all those details. Therefore, if a successful small business that has a unionised work force wants to put into its agreement that it will allow deductions, that will not be allowed by the federal government. It will not have the choice to make union deductions part of its agreement; and, if it does do that deal, it will be liable to prosecution under the federal legislation. That is just one example of the many areas in which the federal government is dictating to small businesses that they cannot run their businesses in a way that suits them and their employees but will have to jump to the tune that the federal government is playing. Further, many small businesses may find that the cost of the current industrial relations system is an issue. However, they will find it a lot cheaper and easier than fighting disputes through the civil jurisdiction, with all the costs that go along with that. On a range of scores, many small businesses will find that there is a real sting in the tail of the Howard government changes, and they will cop the cost of it.
I thank the member for the question. Members are becoming very well aware of the real threat to the conditions of workers in this state and across Australia from the Howard government. However, I do not think small business has actually twigged to the real risk that many small businesses will confront. The Howard government’s IR changes will mean that incorporated small businesses will have to move into the new federal arena - they will have no choice - through the use of the commonwealth legislation. Mr T.R. Buswell : They are there now. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : They are not, in fact. Most of them come under state legislation. The actual bill has very complex processes for that conversion. That will mean that small businesses, particularly very small businesses, will have to cope with the complexity of being pulled by the commonwealth into the federal system. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Then there are the unincorporated small businesses, which the federal government will try to drive into the federal system and force to be incorporated. They will have to pick up an additional cost of $2 000 to $3 000 a year, perhaps, to make sure they are incorporated, whether they want to go into the federal system or not. Thirdly, the federal government, which has talked for a long time about giving choice and about freeing up the system, is now trying to put the straitjacket on small businesses that they will have to conform to exactly what the federal government says and they will have to comply with all those details. Therefore, if a successful small business that has a unionised work force wants to put into its agreement that it will allow deductions, that will not be allowed by the federal government. It will not have the choice to make union deductions part of its agreement; and, if it does do that deal, it will be liable to prosecution under the federal legislation. That is just one example of the many areas in which the federal government is dictating to small businesses that they cannot run their businesses in a way that suits them and their employees but will have to jump to the tune that the federal government is playing. Further, many small businesses may find that the cost of the current industrial relations system is an issue. However, they will find it a lot cheaper and easier than fighting disputes through the civil jurisdiction, with all the costs that go along with that. On a range of scores, many small businesses will find that there is a real sting in the tail of the Howard government changes, and they will cop the cost of it.
Mr T.R. Buswell : They are there now. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : They are not, in fact. Most of them come under state legislation. The actual bill has very complex processes for that conversion. That will mean that small businesses, particularly very small businesses, will have to cope with the complexity of being pulled by the commonwealth into the federal system. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Then there are the unincorporated small businesses, which the federal government will try to drive into the federal system and force to be incorporated. They will have to pick up an additional cost of $2 000 to $3 000 a year, perhaps, to make sure they are incorporated, whether they want to go into the federal system or not. Thirdly, the federal government, which has talked for a long time about giving choice and about freeing up the system, is now trying to put the straitjacket on small businesses that they will have to conform to exactly what the federal government says and they will have to comply with all those details. Therefore, if a successful small business that has a unionised work force wants to put into its agreement that it will allow deductions, that will not be allowed by the federal government. It will not have the choice to make union deductions part of its agreement; and, if it does do that deal, it will be liable to prosecution under the federal legislation. That is just one example of the many areas in which the federal government is dictating to small businesses that they cannot run their businesses in a way that suits them and their employees but will have to jump to the tune that the federal government is playing. Further, many small businesses may find that the cost of the current industrial relations system is an issue. However, they will find it a lot cheaper and easier than fighting disputes through the civil jurisdiction, with all the costs that go along with that. On a range of scores, many small businesses will find that there is a real sting in the tail of the Howard government changes, and they will cop the cost of it.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : They are not, in fact. Most of them come under state legislation. The actual bill has very complex processes for that conversion. That will mean that small businesses, particularly very small businesses, will have to cope with the complexity of being pulled by the commonwealth into the federal system. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Then there are the unincorporated small businesses, which the federal government will try to drive into the federal system and force to be incorporated. They will have to pick up an additional cost of $2 000 to $3 000 a year, perhaps, to make sure they are incorporated, whether they want to go into the federal system or not. Thirdly, the federal government, which has talked for a long time about giving choice and about freeing up the system, is now trying to put the straitjacket on small businesses that they will have to conform to exactly what the federal government says and they will have to comply with all those details. Therefore, if a successful small business that has a unionised work force wants to put into its agreement that it will allow deductions, that will not be allowed by the federal government. It will not have the choice to make union deductions part of its agreement; and, if it does do that deal, it will be liable to prosecution under the federal legislation. That is just one example of the many areas in which the federal government is dictating to small businesses that they cannot run their businesses in a way that suits them and their employees but will have to jump to the tune that the federal government is playing. Further, many small businesses may find that the cost of the current industrial relations system is an issue. However, they will find it a lot cheaper and easier than fighting disputes through the civil jurisdiction, with all the costs that go along with that. On a range of scores, many small businesses will find that there is a real sting in the tail of the Howard government changes, and they will cop the cost of it.
Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Then there are the unincorporated small businesses, which the federal government will try to drive into the federal system and force to be incorporated. They will have to pick up an additional cost of $2 000 to $3 000 a year, perhaps, to make sure they are incorporated, whether they want to go into the federal system or not. Thirdly, the federal government, which has talked for a long time about giving choice and about freeing up the system, is now trying to put the straitjacket on small businesses that they will have to conform to exactly what the federal government says and they will have to comply with all those details. Therefore, if a successful small business that has a unionised work force wants to put into its agreement that it will allow deductions, that will not be allowed by the federal government. It will not have the choice to make union deductions part of its agreement; and, if it does do that deal, it will be liable to prosecution under the federal legislation. That is just one example of the many areas in which the federal government is dictating to small businesses that they cannot run their businesses in a way that suits them and their employees but will have to jump to the tune that the federal government is playing. Further, many small businesses may find that the cost of the current industrial relations system is an issue. However, they will find it a lot cheaper and easier than fighting disputes through the civil jurisdiction, with all the costs that go along with that. On a range of scores, many small businesses will find that there is a real sting in the tail of the Howard government changes, and they will cop the cost of it.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Then there are the unincorporated small businesses, which the federal government will try to drive into the federal system and force to be incorporated. They will have to pick up an additional cost of $2 000 to $3 000 a year, perhaps, to make sure they are incorporated, whether they want to go into the federal system or not. Thirdly, the federal government, which has talked for a long time about giving choice and about freeing up the system, is now trying to put the straitjacket on small businesses that they will have to conform to exactly what the federal government says and they will have to comply with all those details. Therefore, if a successful small business that has a unionised work force wants to put into its agreement that it will allow deductions, that will not be allowed by the federal government. It will not have the choice to make union deductions part of its agreement; and, if it does do that deal, it will be liable to prosecution under the federal legislation. That is just one example of the many areas in which the federal government is dictating to small businesses that they cannot run their businesses in a way that suits them and their employees but will have to jump to the tune that the federal government is playing. Further, many small businesses may find that the cost of the current industrial relations system is an issue. However, they will find it a lot cheaper and easier than fighting disputes through the civil jurisdiction, with all the costs that go along with that. On a range of scores, many small businesses will find that there is a real sting in the tail of the Howard government changes, and they will cop the cost of it.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Then there are the unincorporated small businesses, which the federal government will try to drive into the federal system and force to be incorporated. They will have to pick up an additional cost of $2 000 to $3 000 a year, perhaps, to make sure they are incorporated, whether they want to go into the federal system or not. Thirdly, the federal government, which has talked for a long time about giving choice and about freeing up the system, is now trying to put the straitjacket on small businesses that they will have to conform to exactly what the federal government says and they will have to comply with all those details. Therefore, if a successful small business that has a unionised work force wants to put into its agreement that it will allow deductions, that will not be allowed by the federal government. It will not have the choice to make union deductions part of its agreement; and, if it does do that deal, it will be liable to prosecution under the federal legislation. That is just one example of the many areas in which the federal government is dictating to small businesses that they cannot run their businesses in a way that suits them and their employees but will have to jump to the tune that the federal government is playing. Further, many small businesses may find that the cost of the current industrial relations system is an issue. However, they will find it a lot cheaper and easier than fighting disputes through the civil jurisdiction, with all the costs that go along with that. On a range of scores, many small businesses will find that there is a real sting in the tail of the Howard government changes, and they will cop the cost of it.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. Members are becoming very well aware of the real threat to the conditions of workers in this state and across Australia from the Howard government. However, I do not think small business has actually twigged to the real risk that many small businesses will confront. The Howard government’s IR changes will mean that incorporated small businesses will have to move into the new federal arena - they will have no choice - through the use of the commonwealth legislation. Mr T.R. Buswell : They are there now. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : They are not, in fact. Most of them come under state legislation. The actual bill has very complex processes for that conversion. That will mean that small businesses, particularly very small businesses, will have to cope with the complexity of being pulled by the commonwealth into the federal system. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Then there are the unincorporated small businesses, which the federal government will try to drive into the federal system and force to be incorporated. They will have to pick up an additional cost of $2 000 to $3 000 a year, perhaps, to make sure they are incorporated, whether they want to go into the federal system or not. Thirdly, the federal government, which has talked for a long time about giving choice and about freeing up the system, is now trying to put the straitjacket on small businesses that they will have to conform to exactly what the federal government says and they will have to comply with all those details. Therefore, if a successful small business that has a unionised work force wants to put into its agreement that it will allow deductions, that will not be allowed by the federal government. It will not have the choice to make union deductions part of its agreement; and, if it does do that deal, it will be liable to prosecution under the federal legislation. That is just one example of the many areas in which the federal government is dictating to small businesses that they cannot run their businesses in a way that suits them and their employees but will have to jump to the tune that the federal government is playing. Further, many small businesses may find that the cost of the current industrial relations system is an issue. However, they will find it a lot cheaper and easier than fighting disputes through the civil jurisdiction, with all the costs that go along with that. On a range of scores, many small businesses will find that there is a real sting in the tail of the Howard government changes, and they will cop the cost of it.
I thank the member for the question. Members are becoming very well aware of the real threat to the conditions of workers in this state and across Australia from the Howard government. However, I do not think small business has actually twigged to the real risk that many small businesses will confront. The Howard government’s IR changes will mean that incorporated small businesses will have to move into the new federal arena - they will have no choice - through the use of the commonwealth legislation. Mr T.R. Buswell : They are there now. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : They are not, in fact. Most of them come under state legislation. The actual bill has very complex processes for that conversion. That will mean that small businesses, particularly very small businesses, will have to cope with the complexity of being pulled by the commonwealth into the federal system. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Then there are the unincorporated small businesses, which the federal government will try to drive into the federal system and force to be incorporated. They will have to pick up an additional cost of $2 000 to $3 000 a year, perhaps, to make sure they are incorporated, whether they want to go into the federal system or not. Thirdly, the federal government, which has talked for a long time about giving choice and about freeing up the system, is now trying to put the straitjacket on small businesses that they will have to conform to exactly what the federal government says and they will have to comply with all those details. Therefore, if a successful small business that has a unionised work force wants to put into its agreement that it will allow deductions, that will not be allowed by the federal government. It will not have the choice to make union deductions part of its agreement; and, if it does do that deal, it will be liable to prosecution under the federal legislation. That is just one example of the many areas in which the federal government is dictating to small businesses that they cannot run their businesses in a way that suits them and their employees but will have to jump to the tune that the federal government is playing. Further, many small businesses may find that the cost of the current industrial relations system is an issue. However, they will find it a lot cheaper and easier than fighting disputes through the civil jurisdiction, with all the costs that go along with that. On a range of scores, many small businesses will find that there is a real sting in the tail of the Howard government changes, and they will cop the cost of it.
Mr T.R. Buswell : They are there now. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : They are not, in fact. Most of them come under state legislation. The actual bill has very complex processes for that conversion. That will mean that small businesses, particularly very small businesses, will have to cope with the complexity of being pulled by the commonwealth into the federal system. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Then there are the unincorporated small businesses, which the federal government will try to drive into the federal system and force to be incorporated. They will have to pick up an additional cost of $2 000 to $3 000 a year, perhaps, to make sure they are incorporated, whether they want to go into the federal system or not. Thirdly, the federal government, which has talked for a long time about giving choice and about freeing up the system, is now trying to put the straitjacket on small businesses that they will have to conform to exactly what the federal government says and they will have to comply with all those details. Therefore, if a successful small business that has a unionised work force wants to put into its agreement that it will allow deductions, that will not be allowed by the federal government. It will not have the choice to make union deductions part of its agreement; and, if it does do that deal, it will be liable to prosecution under the federal legislation. That is just one example of the many areas in which the federal government is dictating to small businesses that they cannot run their businesses in a way that suits them and their employees but will have to jump to the tune that the federal government is playing. Further, many small businesses may find that the cost of the current industrial relations system is an issue. However, they will find it a lot cheaper and easier than fighting disputes through the civil jurisdiction, with all the costs that go along with that. On a range of scores, many small businesses will find that there is a real sting in the tail of the Howard government changes, and they will cop the cost of it.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : They are not, in fact. Most of them come under state legislation. The actual bill has very complex processes for that conversion. That will mean that small businesses, particularly very small businesses, will have to cope with the complexity of being pulled by the commonwealth into the federal system. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Then there are the unincorporated small businesses, which the federal government will try to drive into the federal system and force to be incorporated. They will have to pick up an additional cost of $2 000 to $3 000 a year, perhaps, to make sure they are incorporated, whether they want to go into the federal system or not. Thirdly, the federal government, which has talked for a long time about giving choice and about freeing up the system, is now trying to put the straitjacket on small businesses that they will have to conform to exactly what the federal government says and they will have to comply with all those details. Therefore, if a successful small business that has a unionised work force wants to put into its agreement that it will allow deductions, that will not be allowed by the federal government. It will not have the choice to make union deductions part of its agreement; and, if it does do that deal, it will be liable to prosecution under the federal legislation. That is just one example of the many areas in which the federal government is dictating to small businesses that they cannot run their businesses in a way that suits them and their employees but will have to jump to the tune that the federal government is playing. Further, many small businesses may find that the cost of the current industrial relations system is an issue. However, they will find it a lot cheaper and easier than fighting disputes through the civil jurisdiction, with all the costs that go along with that. On a range of scores, many small businesses will find that there is a real sting in the tail of the Howard government changes, and they will cop the cost of it.
Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Then there are the unincorporated small businesses, which the federal government will try to drive into the federal system and force to be incorporated. They will have to pick up an additional cost of $2 000 to $3 000 a year, perhaps, to make sure they are incorporated, whether they want to go into the federal system or not. Thirdly, the federal government, which has talked for a long time about giving choice and about freeing up the system, is now trying to put the straitjacket on small businesses that they will have to conform to exactly what the federal government says and they will have to comply with all those details. Therefore, if a successful small business that has a unionised work force wants to put into its agreement that it will allow deductions, that will not be allowed by the federal government. It will not have the choice to make union deductions part of its agreement; and, if it does do that deal, it will be liable to prosecution under the federal legislation. That is just one example of the many areas in which the federal government is dictating to small businesses that they cannot run their businesses in a way that suits them and their employees but will have to jump to the tune that the federal government is playing. Further, many small businesses may find that the cost of the current industrial relations system is an issue. However, they will find it a lot cheaper and easier than fighting disputes through the civil jurisdiction, with all the costs that go along with that. On a range of scores, many small businesses will find that there is a real sting in the tail of the Howard government changes, and they will cop the cost of it.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Then there are the unincorporated small businesses, which the federal government will try to drive into the federal system and force to be incorporated. They will have to pick up an additional cost of $2 000 to $3 000 a year, perhaps, to make sure they are incorporated, whether they want to go into the federal system or not. Thirdly, the federal government, which has talked for a long time about giving choice and about freeing up the system, is now trying to put the straitjacket on small businesses that they will have to conform to exactly what the federal government says and they will have to comply with all those details. Therefore, if a successful small business that has a unionised work force wants to put into its agreement that it will allow deductions, that will not be allowed by the federal government. It will not have the choice to make union deductions part of its agreement; and, if it does do that deal, it will be liable to prosecution under the federal legislation. That is just one example of the many areas in which the federal government is dictating to small businesses that they cannot run their businesses in a way that suits them and their employees but will have to jump to the tune that the federal government is playing. Further, many small businesses may find that the cost of the current industrial relations system is an issue. However, they will find it a lot cheaper and easier than fighting disputes through the civil jurisdiction, with all the costs that go along with that. On a range of scores, many small businesses will find that there is a real sting in the tail of the Howard government changes, and they will cop the cost of it.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Then there are the unincorporated small businesses, which the federal government will try to drive into the federal system and force to be incorporated. They will have to pick up an additional cost of $2 000 to $3 000 a year, perhaps, to make sure they are incorporated, whether they want to go into the federal system or not. Thirdly, the federal government, which has talked for a long time about giving choice and about freeing up the system, is now trying to put the straitjacket on small businesses that they will have to conform to exactly what the federal government says and they will have to comply with all those details. Therefore, if a successful small business that has a unionised work force wants to put into its agreement that it will allow deductions, that will not be allowed by the federal government. It will not have the choice to make union deductions part of its agreement; and, if it does do that deal, it will be liable to prosecution under the federal legislation. That is just one example of the many areas in which the federal government is dictating to small businesses that they cannot run their businesses in a way that suits them and their employees but will have to jump to the tune that the federal government is playing. Further, many small businesses may find that the cost of the current industrial relations system is an issue. However, they will find it a lot cheaper and easier than fighting disputes through the civil jurisdiction, with all the costs that go along with that. On a range of scores, many small businesses will find that there is a real sting in the tail of the Howard government changes, and they will cop the cost of it.
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