❓ Mr Andrews asks about improvements to industrial relations compliance following Labor's commitment to increase resources. Mr Kobelke details increased inspector numbers, regional placements, collaborative education programs, and improved compliance statistics compared to the previous government.
AnsweredQoN 1003Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Labor’s industrial relations policy stated that it would allocate more personnel and resources to the inspectorate division of the then Department of Productivity and Labour Relations to ensure compliance with relevant state and federal industrial relations laws. Will the minister please explain what improvements have occurred and what benefits have been achieved under the Government’s reforms? Mr KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. The Labor Party came into government with a clear commitment to ensuring there was fairness in the workplaces of Western Australia. It related to not only improving the law to be applied but also ensuring enforcement of the employment laws in this State. When we came into government the then Department of Productivity and Labour Relations had 12 inspectors. In the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection there are now 20 inspectors. We have put inspectors into the regional offices from which the previous Government took them. Compliance inspectors are now situated in Karratha, Kalgoorlie, Bunbury and Albany. Geraldton has a full-time compliance and education officer. The Government has worked collaboratively with industry groups to make sure that employers and employees are educated about their rights. We have followed through to ensure that the law is complied with. In the 12 months from April 2001 to March of this year there were 1 347 compliance cases, recovery of $983 815 and 46 prosecutions. In comparison, in the previous financial year under the previous Government there were only 708 cases, recovery of $704 157 and 15 prosecutions. The Government will allocate resources to provide more inspectors to ensure that the employment laws that the Parliament puts in place are complied with.
Mr KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. The Labor Party came into government with a clear commitment to ensuring there was fairness in the workplaces of Western Australia. It related to not only improving the law to be applied but also ensuring enforcement of the employment laws in this State. When we came into government the then Department of Productivity and Labour Relations had 12 inspectors. In the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection there are now 20 inspectors. We have put inspectors into the regional offices from which the previous Government took them. Compliance inspectors are now situated in Karratha, Kalgoorlie, Bunbury and Albany. Geraldton has a full-time compliance and education officer. The Government has worked collaboratively with industry groups to make sure that employers and employees are educated about their rights. We have followed through to ensure that the law is complied with. In the 12 months from April 2001 to March of this year there were 1 347 compliance cases, recovery of $983 815 and 46 prosecutions. In comparison, in the previous financial year under the previous Government there were only 708 cases, recovery of $704 157 and 15 prosecutions. The Government will allocate resources to provide more inspectors to ensure that the employment laws that the Parliament puts in place are complied with.
I thank the member for the question. The Labor Party came into government with a clear commitment to ensuring there was fairness in the workplaces of Western Australia. It related to not only improving the law to be applied but also ensuring enforcement of the employment laws in this State. When we came into government the then Department of Productivity and Labour Relations had 12 inspectors. In the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection there are now 20 inspectors. We have put inspectors into the regional offices from which the previous Government took them. Compliance inspectors are now situated in Karratha, Kalgoorlie, Bunbury and Albany. Geraldton has a full-time compliance and education officer. The Government has worked collaboratively with industry groups to make sure that employers and employees are educated about their rights. We have followed through to ensure that the law is complied with. In the 12 months from April 2001 to March of this year there were 1 347 compliance cases, recovery of $983 815 and 46 prosecutions. In comparison, in the previous financial year under the previous Government there were only 708 cases, recovery of $704 157 and 15 prosecutions. The Government will allocate resources to provide more inspectors to ensure that the employment laws that the Parliament puts in place are complied with.
Mr KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. The Labor Party came into government with a clear commitment to ensuring there was fairness in the workplaces of Western Australia. It related to not only improving the law to be applied but also ensuring enforcement of the employment laws in this State. When we came into government the then Department of Productivity and Labour Relations had 12 inspectors. In the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection there are now 20 inspectors. We have put inspectors into the regional offices from which the previous Government took them. Compliance inspectors are now situated in Karratha, Kalgoorlie, Bunbury and Albany. Geraldton has a full-time compliance and education officer. The Government has worked collaboratively with industry groups to make sure that employers and employees are educated about their rights. We have followed through to ensure that the law is complied with. In the 12 months from April 2001 to March of this year there were 1 347 compliance cases, recovery of $983 815 and 46 prosecutions. In comparison, in the previous financial year under the previous Government there were only 708 cases, recovery of $704 157 and 15 prosecutions. The Government will allocate resources to provide more inspectors to ensure that the employment laws that the Parliament puts in place are complied with.
I thank the member for the question. The Labor Party came into government with a clear commitment to ensuring there was fairness in the workplaces of Western Australia. It related to not only improving the law to be applied but also ensuring enforcement of the employment laws in this State. When we came into government the then Department of Productivity and Labour Relations had 12 inspectors. In the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection there are now 20 inspectors. We have put inspectors into the regional offices from which the previous Government took them. Compliance inspectors are now situated in Karratha, Kalgoorlie, Bunbury and Albany. Geraldton has a full-time compliance and education officer. The Government has worked collaboratively with industry groups to make sure that employers and employees are educated about their rights. We have followed through to ensure that the law is complied with. In the 12 months from April 2001 to March of this year there were 1 347 compliance cases, recovery of $983 815 and 46 prosecutions. In comparison, in the previous financial year under the previous Government there were only 708 cases, recovery of $704 157 and 15 prosecutions. The Government will allocate resources to provide more inspectors to ensure that the employment laws that the Parliament puts in place are complied with.
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