❓ Mr. Templeman questions the impact of federal industrial relations changes on WA youth. Mr. McGowan criticises the proposed changes, highlighting potential negative effects on young workers' wages and bargaining power, while praising the WA government's youth employment initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 709Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the federal government’s proposed changes to industrial relations. What effect will these changes have on Western Australia’s young people? Mr M. McGOWAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Mandurah for the question. I inform the house that we have been working very hard to provide more jobs and opportunities for young people in Western Australia. The figures speak for themselves. We now have a rate of four per cent unemployment in Western Australia; the lowest in living memory. Western Australia’s youth unemployment rate is well below the national level. During the term of this government Western Australia has had a 47 per cent increase in the number of apprenticeships. Of course, this government is bringing in great reforms to encourage young people to ensure they remain in education and training until the age of 17. What does the federal government propose in relation to all of these really quite earth-shattering and amazingly spectacularly successful changes that this government has brought in? The Howard IR changes - it refers to them as reforms - are an attack on young people who are the most vulnerable people in our community in relation to their employment rights and conditions. When John Howard, the current Prime Minister, was shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, he explained his view to the Australian people in relation to young people and their pay rates. John Howard said - … all the awards that contain youth minima which now average in the age group 15 to 19, about $8.50 per hour. We’re arguing that they be changed and we insert the amounts of $3.00 and $3.50 an hour. That is what the Prime Minister suggested - no doubt this reform program has been in his mind for a long period - in relation to young people’s wages. I now move to the Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Hon Kevin Andrews. When he was asked what he thought about the negotiating position of young people vis-a-vis their employer, what did he say? Who could they take to negotiate with them? He said that he or she could go to their accountant. They could take their accountant along to bargain with their employer. I can just see 17 or 18-year-olds going to PricewaterhouseCoopers, getting their accountants, taking them down to McDonald’s and sorting out the whole issue. That is how out of touch the ministers in the federal government are. I went to the rally a couple of hours ago. On the big screen was a young woman explaining why she thought young people might be adversely affected by these industrial relations changes. She was right; young people are vulnerable and inexperienced, and they do not have the worldly experience and perhaps the qualifications that others have. We heard on the screen from this young woman named Misty. I would like to quote another young person. He is young, vulnerable, inexperienced and a little unsure of himself. He has other people chasing his job. He is a little unworldly and he has lived in the one place his whole life. He does not know much about the world. His name is Matt, and he said in relation to the Howard government’s workplace relations change - I just can’t support it. I mean, I’m a Western Australian first, I’ve got to tell you, and I’m also concerned that this might end up being the thin edge of the wedge. I mean, I’m worried that State Governments might become irrelevant, and that would be a retrograde step. Matt is none other than the Leader of the Opposition. He is on our side. On that point, he was exactly right.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Mandurah for the question. I inform the house that we have been working very hard to provide more jobs and opportunities for young people in Western Australia. The figures speak for themselves. We now have a rate of four per cent unemployment in Western Australia; the lowest in living memory. Western Australia’s youth unemployment rate is well below the national level. During the term of this government Western Australia has had a 47 per cent increase in the number of apprenticeships. Of course, this government is bringing in great reforms to encourage young people to ensure they remain in education and training until the age of 17. What does the federal government propose in relation to all of these really quite earth-shattering and amazingly spectacularly successful changes that this government has brought in? The Howard IR changes - it refers to them as reforms - are an attack on young people who are the most vulnerable people in our community in relation to their employment rights and conditions. When John Howard, the current Prime Minister, was shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, he explained his view to the Australian people in relation to young people and their pay rates. John Howard said - … all the awards that contain youth minima which now average in the age group 15 to 19, about $8.50 per hour. We’re arguing that they be changed and we insert the amounts of $3.00 and $3.50 an hour. That is what the Prime Minister suggested - no doubt this reform program has been in his mind for a long period - in relation to young people’s wages. I now move to the Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Hon Kevin Andrews. When he was asked what he thought about the negotiating position of young people vis-a-vis their employer, what did he say? Who could they take to negotiate with them? He said that he or she could go to their accountant. They could take their accountant along to bargain with their employer. I can just see 17 or 18-year-olds going to PricewaterhouseCoopers, getting their accountants, taking them down to McDonald’s and sorting out the whole issue. That is how out of touch the ministers in the federal government are. I went to the rally a couple of hours ago. On the big screen was a young woman explaining why she thought young people might be adversely affected by these industrial relations changes. She was right; young people are vulnerable and inexperienced, and they do not have the worldly experience and perhaps the qualifications that others have. We heard on the screen from this young woman named Misty. I would like to quote another young person. He is young, vulnerable, inexperienced and a little unsure of himself. He has other people chasing his job. He is a little unworldly and he has lived in the one place his whole life. He does not know much about the world. His name is Matt, and he said in relation to the Howard government’s workplace relations change - I just can’t support it. I mean, I’m a Western Australian first, I’ve got to tell you, and I’m also concerned that this might end up being the thin edge of the wedge. I mean, I’m worried that State Governments might become irrelevant, and that would be a retrograde step. Matt is none other than the Leader of the Opposition. He is on our side. On that point, he was exactly right.
I thank the member for Mandurah for the question. I inform the house that we have been working very hard to provide more jobs and opportunities for young people in Western Australia. The figures speak for themselves. We now have a rate of four per cent unemployment in Western Australia; the lowest in living memory. Western Australia’s youth unemployment rate is well below the national level. During the term of this government Western Australia has had a 47 per cent increase in the number of apprenticeships. Of course, this government is bringing in great reforms to encourage young people to ensure they remain in education and training until the age of 17. What does the federal government propose in relation to all of these really quite earth-shattering and amazingly spectacularly successful changes that this government has brought in? The Howard IR changes - it refers to them as reforms - are an attack on young people who are the most vulnerable people in our community in relation to their employment rights and conditions. When John Howard, the current Prime Minister, was shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, he explained his view to the Australian people in relation to young people and their pay rates. John Howard said - … all the awards that contain youth minima which now average in the age group 15 to 19, about $8.50 per hour. We’re arguing that they be changed and we insert the amounts of $3.00 and $3.50 an hour. That is what the Prime Minister suggested - no doubt this reform program has been in his mind for a long period - in relation to young people’s wages. I now move to the Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Hon Kevin Andrews. When he was asked what he thought about the negotiating position of young people vis-a-vis their employer, what did he say? Who could they take to negotiate with them? He said that he or she could go to their accountant. They could take their accountant along to bargain with their employer. I can just see 17 or 18-year-olds going to PricewaterhouseCoopers, getting their accountants, taking them down to McDonald’s and sorting out the whole issue. That is how out of touch the ministers in the federal government are. I went to the rally a couple of hours ago. On the big screen was a young woman explaining why she thought young people might be adversely affected by these industrial relations changes. She was right; young people are vulnerable and inexperienced, and they do not have the worldly experience and perhaps the qualifications that others have. We heard on the screen from this young woman named Misty. I would like to quote another young person. He is young, vulnerable, inexperienced and a little unsure of himself. He has other people chasing his job. He is a little unworldly and he has lived in the one place his whole life. He does not know much about the world. His name is Matt, and he said in relation to the Howard government’s workplace relations change - I just can’t support it. I mean, I’m a Western Australian first, I’ve got to tell you, and I’m also concerned that this might end up being the thin edge of the wedge. I mean, I’m worried that State Governments might become irrelevant, and that would be a retrograde step. Matt is none other than the Leader of the Opposition. He is on our side. On that point, he was exactly right.
I went to the rally a couple of hours ago. On the big screen was a young woman explaining why she thought young people might be adversely affected by these industrial relations changes. She was right; young people are vulnerable and inexperienced, and they do not have the worldly experience and perhaps the qualifications that others have. We heard on the screen from this young woman named Misty. I would like to quote another young person. He is young, vulnerable, inexperienced and a little unsure of himself. He has other people chasing his job. He is a little unworldly and he has lived in the one place his whole life. He does not know much about the world. His name is Matt, and he said in relation to the Howard government’s workplace relations change - I just can’t support it. I mean, I’m a Western Australian first, I’ve got to tell you, and I’m also concerned that this might end up being the thin edge of the wedge. I mean, I’m worried that State Governments might become irrelevant, and that would be a retrograde step. Matt is none other than the Leader of the Opposition. He is on our side. On that point, he was exactly right.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Mandurah for the question. I inform the house that we have been working very hard to provide more jobs and opportunities for young people in Western Australia. The figures speak for themselves. We now have a rate of four per cent unemployment in Western Australia; the lowest in living memory. Western Australia’s youth unemployment rate is well below the national level. During the term of this government Western Australia has had a 47 per cent increase in the number of apprenticeships. Of course, this government is bringing in great reforms to encourage young people to ensure they remain in education and training until the age of 17. What does the federal government propose in relation to all of these really quite earth-shattering and amazingly spectacularly successful changes that this government has brought in? The Howard IR changes - it refers to them as reforms - are an attack on young people who are the most vulnerable people in our community in relation to their employment rights and conditions. When John Howard, the current Prime Minister, was shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, he explained his view to the Australian people in relation to young people and their pay rates. John Howard said - … all the awards that contain youth minima which now average in the age group 15 to 19, about $8.50 per hour. We’re arguing that they be changed and we insert the amounts of $3.00 and $3.50 an hour. That is what the Prime Minister suggested - no doubt this reform program has been in his mind for a long period - in relation to young people’s wages. I now move to the Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Hon Kevin Andrews. When he was asked what he thought about the negotiating position of young people vis-a-vis their employer, what did he say? Who could they take to negotiate with them? He said that he or she could go to their accountant. They could take their accountant along to bargain with their employer. I can just see 17 or 18-year-olds going to PricewaterhouseCoopers, getting their accountants, taking them down to McDonald’s and sorting out the whole issue. That is how out of touch the ministers in the federal government are. I went to the rally a couple of hours ago. On the big screen was a young woman explaining why she thought young people might be adversely affected by these industrial relations changes. She was right; young people are vulnerable and inexperienced, and they do not have the worldly experience and perhaps the qualifications that others have. We heard on the screen from this young woman named Misty. I would like to quote another young person. He is young, vulnerable, inexperienced and a little unsure of himself. He has other people chasing his job. He is a little unworldly and he has lived in the one place his whole life. He does not know much about the world. His name is Matt, and he said in relation to the Howard government’s workplace relations change - I just can’t support it. I mean, I’m a Western Australian first, I’ve got to tell you, and I’m also concerned that this might end up being the thin edge of the wedge. I mean, I’m worried that State Governments might become irrelevant, and that would be a retrograde step. Matt is none other than the Leader of the Opposition. He is on our side. On that point, he was exactly right.
I thank the member for Mandurah for the question. I inform the house that we have been working very hard to provide more jobs and opportunities for young people in Western Australia. The figures speak for themselves. We now have a rate of four per cent unemployment in Western Australia; the lowest in living memory. Western Australia’s youth unemployment rate is well below the national level. During the term of this government Western Australia has had a 47 per cent increase in the number of apprenticeships. Of course, this government is bringing in great reforms to encourage young people to ensure they remain in education and training until the age of 17. What does the federal government propose in relation to all of these really quite earth-shattering and amazingly spectacularly successful changes that this government has brought in? The Howard IR changes - it refers to them as reforms - are an attack on young people who are the most vulnerable people in our community in relation to their employment rights and conditions. When John Howard, the current Prime Minister, was shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, he explained his view to the Australian people in relation to young people and their pay rates. John Howard said - … all the awards that contain youth minima which now average in the age group 15 to 19, about $8.50 per hour. We’re arguing that they be changed and we insert the amounts of $3.00 and $3.50 an hour. That is what the Prime Minister suggested - no doubt this reform program has been in his mind for a long period - in relation to young people’s wages. I now move to the Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Hon Kevin Andrews. When he was asked what he thought about the negotiating position of young people vis-a-vis their employer, what did he say? Who could they take to negotiate with them? He said that he or she could go to their accountant. They could take their accountant along to bargain with their employer. I can just see 17 or 18-year-olds going to PricewaterhouseCoopers, getting their accountants, taking them down to McDonald’s and sorting out the whole issue. That is how out of touch the ministers in the federal government are. I went to the rally a couple of hours ago. On the big screen was a young woman explaining why she thought young people might be adversely affected by these industrial relations changes. She was right; young people are vulnerable and inexperienced, and they do not have the worldly experience and perhaps the qualifications that others have. We heard on the screen from this young woman named Misty. I would like to quote another young person. He is young, vulnerable, inexperienced and a little unsure of himself. He has other people chasing his job. He is a little unworldly and he has lived in the one place his whole life. He does not know much about the world. His name is Matt, and he said in relation to the Howard government’s workplace relations change - I just can’t support it. I mean, I’m a Western Australian first, I’ve got to tell you, and I’m also concerned that this might end up being the thin edge of the wedge. I mean, I’m worried that State Governments might become irrelevant, and that would be a retrograde step. Matt is none other than the Leader of the Opposition. He is on our side. On that point, he was exactly right.
I went to the rally a couple of hours ago. On the big screen was a young woman explaining why she thought young people might be adversely affected by these industrial relations changes. She was right; young people are vulnerable and inexperienced, and they do not have the worldly experience and perhaps the qualifications that others have. We heard on the screen from this young woman named Misty. I would like to quote another young person. He is young, vulnerable, inexperienced and a little unsure of himself. He has other people chasing his job. He is a little unworldly and he has lived in the one place his whole life. He does not know much about the world. His name is Matt, and he said in relation to the Howard government’s workplace relations change - I just can’t support it. I mean, I’m a Western Australian first, I’ve got to tell you, and I’m also concerned that this might end up being the thin edge of the wedge. I mean, I’m worried that State Governments might become irrelevant, and that would be a retrograde step. Matt is none other than the Leader of the Opposition. He is on our side. On that point, he was exactly right.
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