❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Premier regarding the potential impact of the federal 'right to disconnect' law on WA businesses. The Premier avoids directly answering, deflecting to federal jurisdiction and expressing confidence in WA businesses' ability to manage.
AnsweredQoN 16Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS — RIGHT TO DISCONNECT LAW
16. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I refer to the right to disconnect
law, passed by federal Parliament, that forbids employers from contacting
workers after hours with penalties including jail time, that has the potential
to lead to —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms L. METTAM : — workplace
breakdowns, productivity losses and the reduction of other flexible conditions.
(1) Does the
Premier support the introduction of these laws and believe that it is in the
best interests of Western Australia?
(2) Will the
Premier guarantee that there will be no adverse outcomes for WA businesses that
are required to operate across multiple states or time zones?
16. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I refer to the right to disconnect
law, passed by federal Parliament, that forbids employers from contacting
workers after hours with penalties including jail time, that has the potential
to lead to —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms L. METTAM : — workplace
breakdowns, productivity losses and the reduction of other flexible conditions.
(1) Does the
Premier support the introduction of these laws and believe that it is in the
best interests of Western Australia?
(2) Will the
Premier guarantee that there will be no adverse outcomes for WA businesses that
are required to operate across multiple states or time zones?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) We
have now had six questions from the opposition and I think every one of them
has been about the federal government—every one of them!
Mr R.S. Love : What about the
power situation?
Mr R.H. COOK : The power
situation—okay; I will give you that.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr R.H. COOK : On one hand,
opposition members raged against the storms that impacted WA, and in the next
stage they raged against the federal government —
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, you did not ask this question. I ask you to cease interjecting,
please.
Mr R.H. COOK : Federal
Parliament makes the decisions that is makes. Western Australian companies will manage those laws and act in a commonsense
way. We know that Western Australian companies will continue to lead
this country and its economy, and it will continue to make great investments on
behalf of the people of Western Australia to
create great Western Australian jobs. The decisions made by federal Parliament
are essentially a function of Canberra.
have now had six questions from the opposition and I think every one of them
has been about the federal government—every one of them!
Mr R.S. Love : What about the
power situation?
Mr R.H. COOK : The power
situation—okay; I will give you that.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr R.H. COOK : On one hand,
opposition members raged against the storms that impacted WA, and in the next
stage they raged against the federal government —
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, you did not ask this question. I ask you to cease interjecting,
please.
Mr R.H. COOK : Federal
Parliament makes the decisions that is makes. Western Australian companies will manage those laws and act in a commonsense
way. We know that Western Australian companies will continue to lead
this country and its economy, and it will continue to make great investments on
behalf of the people of Western Australia to
create great Western Australian jobs. The decisions made by federal Parliament
are essentially a function of Canberra.
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