❓ Mr. Birney questions the Premier about a CFMEU EBA claim allowing sick leave for personal reasons, suggesting it's an abuse for illegal industrial action. The Premier defends sick leave's importance but states the question is based on a false assumption as the EBA isn't finalised.
AnsweredQoN 350Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the Premier to the latest EBA claim by his masters in the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union that will enable its union members to take sick leave without actually being sick. I quote from that EBA - Sick leave accrued by an employee may be used, at the employee’s sole discretion, for any personal reasons (not including illness or injury). It even says, and I quote again - Where sick leave is used for any personal reasons, there is no obligation to account for the employee’s absence . . . (1) Does the Premier agree that the CFMEU is abusing this provision under the guise of blue flu in order to undertake what would otherwise have been illegal industrial action? (2) Will the Premier now direct the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection to use his formal powers under section 30 of the Industrial Relations Act to intervene in this Industrial Relations Commission hearing to oppose this ridiculous claim? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) The government of Western Australia supports sick leave. We think it is a very important institution. It is crucially important that the integrity of sick leave provisions be properly respected in all agreements between employers and employees and, I might add, also be respected by governments. I refer, of course, to the effort on the part of the Howard government to put sick leave on the table along with the other issues it is addressing through its industrial relations changes. I am advised by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection that enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations with the building industry are continuing. That being the case, the matter has yet to be signed and delivered as an EBA. Therefore, the question is based on a false assumption. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Vasse and Leschenault.
(2) Will the Premier now direct the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection to use his formal powers under section 30 of the Industrial Relations Act to intervene in this Industrial Relations Commission hearing to oppose this ridiculous claim? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The government of Western Australia supports sick leave. We think it is a very important institution. It is crucially important that the integrity of sick leave provisions be properly respected in all agreements between employers and employees and, I might add, also be respected by governments. I refer, of course, to the effort on the part of the Howard government to put sick leave on the table along with the other issues it is addressing through its industrial relations changes. I am advised by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection that enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations with the building industry are continuing. That being the case, the matter has yet to be signed and delivered as an EBA. Therefore, the question is based on a false assumption. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Vasse and Leschenault.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The government of Western Australia supports sick leave. We think it is a very important institution. It is crucially important that the integrity of sick leave provisions be properly respected in all agreements between employers and employees and, I might add, also be respected by governments. I refer, of course, to the effort on the part of the Howard government to put sick leave on the table along with the other issues it is addressing through its industrial relations changes. I am advised by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection that enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations with the building industry are continuing. That being the case, the matter has yet to be signed and delivered as an EBA. Therefore, the question is based on a false assumption. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Vasse and Leschenault.
(1)-(2) The government of Western Australia supports sick leave. We think it is a very important institution. It is crucially important that the integrity of sick leave provisions be properly respected in all agreements between employers and employees and, I might add, also be respected by governments. I refer, of course, to the effort on the part of the Howard government to put sick leave on the table along with the other issues it is addressing through its industrial relations changes. I am advised by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection that enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations with the building industry are continuing. That being the case, the matter has yet to be signed and delivered as an EBA. Therefore, the question is based on a false assumption. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Vasse and Leschenault.
The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Vasse and Leschenault.
(2) Will the Premier now direct the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection to use his formal powers under section 30 of the Industrial Relations Act to intervene in this Industrial Relations Commission hearing to oppose this ridiculous claim? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The government of Western Australia supports sick leave. We think it is a very important institution. It is crucially important that the integrity of sick leave provisions be properly respected in all agreements between employers and employees and, I might add, also be respected by governments. I refer, of course, to the effort on the part of the Howard government to put sick leave on the table along with the other issues it is addressing through its industrial relations changes. I am advised by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection that enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations with the building industry are continuing. That being the case, the matter has yet to be signed and delivered as an EBA. Therefore, the question is based on a false assumption. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Vasse and Leschenault.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The government of Western Australia supports sick leave. We think it is a very important institution. It is crucially important that the integrity of sick leave provisions be properly respected in all agreements between employers and employees and, I might add, also be respected by governments. I refer, of course, to the effort on the part of the Howard government to put sick leave on the table along with the other issues it is addressing through its industrial relations changes. I am advised by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection that enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations with the building industry are continuing. That being the case, the matter has yet to be signed and delivered as an EBA. Therefore, the question is based on a false assumption. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Vasse and Leschenault.
(1)-(2) The government of Western Australia supports sick leave. We think it is a very important institution. It is crucially important that the integrity of sick leave provisions be properly respected in all agreements between employers and employees and, I might add, also be respected by governments. I refer, of course, to the effort on the part of the Howard government to put sick leave on the table along with the other issues it is addressing through its industrial relations changes. I am advised by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection that enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations with the building industry are continuing. That being the case, the matter has yet to be signed and delivered as an EBA. Therefore, the question is based on a false assumption. The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Vasse and Leschenault.
The SPEAKER : I call to order the members for Vasse and Leschenault.
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