❓ Opposition questions Minister about support for Labor's industrial relations reforms. Minister avoids directly answering, instead criticising previous government's workplace agreements and highlighting negative impacts on low-paid workers.
AnsweredQoN 711Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to Labor’s backward industrial relations reforms and to the overwhelming criticism these proposed changes have received from all major business and employer groups. Would the minister please advise if any chambers of commerce, employer groups or small business associations have expressed their support for the Labour Relations Reform Bill 2002 and, if any have done so, would he please name them? Mr BROWN
AnswerView source ↗
I had the pleasure last night of addressing a small business forum, attended by about 60 people. The member for Ballajura was also there. I talked about the industrial relations system. I said that, in 1993, when workplace agreements were introduced, the then coalition Opposition promised three things: choice for employees; that no worker would be worse off; and flexibility. In government, the coalition delivered on flexibility, but not on ensuring that no worker would be worse off. In 1993, when I became a back-bench member of this House, I was paid $68 000 a year. In 2001, I was paid $95 000. I consider that I was paid a very good salary. The lowest paid people in this House are the after-hours security officers. In 1993, when they were paid under the award, the contractor at Parliament House was paid $24 an hour. The last time I inquired what the contractor was paid, I was told it was $17 an hour. The people were employed under workplace agreements. I said to the meeting last night that the Government is repealing workplace agreements because it considers that they have had a harsh impact on the lowest paid workers. The coalition lied at the 1993 state election. After my speech, I answered a whole range of questions from the floor. Would members care to guess how many of those questions were on the subject of labour relations? There were absolutely none! I talk to business people around the State all the time, and I find that those people, whether at the big end of town in the resources industry or at the smaller end of town in small business, say that they do not agree with what occurred after the workplace agreements legislation was introduced. They say that the competitive pressures - Mr Barron-Sullivan: No system is perfect, but you should not throw the baby out with the bath water. Mr BROWN: No system is perfect! I would like the Deputy Leader of the Opposition recorded in Hansard saying that, because the former ministers responsible for labour relations always refused to say in this Parliament, although it was true, that any worker was worse off. They always fudged the answer. They would never say that people were worse off. I have read a lot about these issues, and I was particularly pleased to receive a paper on industry policy released by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia. On page 1, that paper says that it is legitimate for every Western Australian to expect improved living standards. Under the previous Government’s system, the worst off, the lowest paid and the most vulnerable workers in our community went backwards. When this is explained, as I have done, and all the hyperbole and rubbish is taken out, most people will understand notions of fairness. The people who do not understand it are the members opposite.
Mr BROWN replied: I had the pleasure last night of addressing a small business forum, attended by about 60 people. The member for Ballajura was also there. I talked about the industrial relations system. I said that, in 1993, when workplace agreements were introduced, the then coalition Opposition promised three things: choice for employees; that no worker would be worse off; and flexibility. In government, the coalition delivered on flexibility, but not on ensuring that no worker would be worse off. In 1993, when I became a back-bench member of this House, I was paid $68 000 a year. In 2001, I was paid $95 000. I consider that I was paid a very good salary. The lowest paid people in this House are the after-hours security officers. In 1993, when they were paid under the award, the contractor at Parliament House was paid $24 an hour. The last time I inquired what the contractor was paid, I was told it was $17 an hour. The people were employed under workplace agreements. I said to the meeting last night that the Government is repealing workplace agreements because it considers that they have had a harsh impact on the lowest paid workers. The coalition lied at the 1993 state election. After my speech, I answered a whole range of questions from the floor. Would members care to guess how many of those questions were on the subject of labour relations? There were absolutely none! I talk to business people around the State all the time, and I find that those people, whether at the big end of town in the resources industry or at the smaller end of town in small business, say that they do not agree with what occurred after the workplace agreements legislation was introduced. They say that the competitive pressures - Mr Barron-Sullivan: No system is perfect, but you should not throw the baby out with the bath water. Mr BROWN: No system is perfect! I would like the Deputy Leader of the Opposition recorded in Hansard saying that, because the former ministers responsible for labour relations always refused to say in this Parliament, although it was true, that any worker was worse off. They always fudged the answer. They would never say that people were worse off. I have read a lot about these issues, and I was particularly pleased to receive a paper on industry policy released by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia. On page 1, that paper says that it is legitimate for every Western Australian to expect improved living standards. Under the previous Government’s system, the worst off, the lowest paid and the most vulnerable workers in our community went backwards. When this is explained, as I have done, and all the hyperbole and rubbish is taken out, most people will understand notions of fairness. The people who do not understand it are the members opposite.
I had the pleasure last night of addressing a small business forum, attended by about 60 people. The member for Ballajura was also there. I talked about the industrial relations system. I said that, in 1993, when workplace agreements were introduced, the then coalition Opposition promised three things: choice for employees; that no worker would be worse off; and flexibility. In government, the coalition delivered on flexibility, but not on ensuring that no worker would be worse off. In 1993, when I became a back-bench member of this House, I was paid $68 000 a year. In 2001, I was paid $95 000. I consider that I was paid a very good salary. The lowest paid people in this House are the after-hours security officers. In 1993, when they were paid under the award, the contractor at Parliament House was paid $24 an hour. The last time I inquired what the contractor was paid, I was told it was $17 an hour. The people were employed under workplace agreements. I said to the meeting last night that the Government is repealing workplace agreements because it considers that they have had a harsh impact on the lowest paid workers. The coalition lied at the 1993 state election. After my speech, I answered a whole range of questions from the floor. Would members care to guess how many of those questions were on the subject of labour relations? There were absolutely none! I talk to business people around the State all the time, and I find that those people, whether at the big end of town in the resources industry or at the smaller end of town in small business, say that they do not agree with what occurred after the workplace agreements legislation was introduced. They say that the competitive pressures - Mr Barron-Sullivan: No system is perfect, but you should not throw the baby out with the bath water. Mr BROWN: No system is perfect! I would like the Deputy Leader of the Opposition recorded in Hansard saying that, because the former ministers responsible for labour relations always refused to say in this Parliament, although it was true, that any worker was worse off. They always fudged the answer. They would never say that people were worse off. I have read a lot about these issues, and I was particularly pleased to receive a paper on industry policy released by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia. On page 1, that paper says that it is legitimate for every Western Australian to expect improved living standards. Under the previous Government’s system, the worst off, the lowest paid and the most vulnerable workers in our community went backwards. When this is explained, as I have done, and all the hyperbole and rubbish is taken out, most people will understand notions of fairness. The people who do not understand it are the members opposite.
Mr Barron-Sullivan: No system is perfect, but you should not throw the baby out with the bath water. Mr BROWN: No system is perfect! I would like the Deputy Leader of the Opposition recorded in Hansard saying that, because the former ministers responsible for labour relations always refused to say in this Parliament, although it was true, that any worker was worse off. They always fudged the answer. They would never say that people were worse off. I have read a lot about these issues, and I was particularly pleased to receive a paper on industry policy released by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia. On page 1, that paper says that it is legitimate for every Western Australian to expect improved living standards. Under the previous Government’s system, the worst off, the lowest paid and the most vulnerable workers in our community went backwards. When this is explained, as I have done, and all the hyperbole and rubbish is taken out, most people will understand notions of fairness. The people who do not understand it are the members opposite.
Mr BROWN: No system is perfect! I would like the Deputy Leader of the Opposition recorded in Hansard saying that, because the former ministers responsible for labour relations always refused to say in this Parliament, although it was true, that any worker was worse off. They always fudged the answer. They would never say that people were worse off. I have read a lot about these issues, and I was particularly pleased to receive a paper on industry policy released by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia. On page 1, that paper says that it is legitimate for every Western Australian to expect improved living standards. Under the previous Government’s system, the worst off, the lowest paid and the most vulnerable workers in our community went backwards. When this is explained, as I have done, and all the hyperbole and rubbish is taken out, most people will understand notions of fairness. The people who do not understand it are the members opposite.
I have read a lot about these issues, and I was particularly pleased to receive a paper on industry policy released by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia. On page 1, that paper says that it is legitimate for every Western Australian to expect improved living standards. Under the previous Government’s system, the worst off, the lowest paid and the most vulnerable workers in our community went backwards. When this is explained, as I have done, and all the hyperbole and rubbish is taken out, most people will understand notions of fairness. The people who do not understand it are the members opposite.
Mr BROWN replied: I had the pleasure last night of addressing a small business forum, attended by about 60 people. The member for Ballajura was also there. I talked about the industrial relations system. I said that, in 1993, when workplace agreements were introduced, the then coalition Opposition promised three things: choice for employees; that no worker would be worse off; and flexibility. In government, the coalition delivered on flexibility, but not on ensuring that no worker would be worse off. In 1993, when I became a back-bench member of this House, I was paid $68 000 a year. In 2001, I was paid $95 000. I consider that I was paid a very good salary. The lowest paid people in this House are the after-hours security officers. In 1993, when they were paid under the award, the contractor at Parliament House was paid $24 an hour. The last time I inquired what the contractor was paid, I was told it was $17 an hour. The people were employed under workplace agreements. I said to the meeting last night that the Government is repealing workplace agreements because it considers that they have had a harsh impact on the lowest paid workers. The coalition lied at the 1993 state election. After my speech, I answered a whole range of questions from the floor. Would members care to guess how many of those questions were on the subject of labour relations? There were absolutely none! I talk to business people around the State all the time, and I find that those people, whether at the big end of town in the resources industry or at the smaller end of town in small business, say that they do not agree with what occurred after the workplace agreements legislation was introduced. They say that the competitive pressures - Mr Barron-Sullivan: No system is perfect, but you should not throw the baby out with the bath water. Mr BROWN: No system is perfect! I would like the Deputy Leader of the Opposition recorded in Hansard saying that, because the former ministers responsible for labour relations always refused to say in this Parliament, although it was true, that any worker was worse off. They always fudged the answer. They would never say that people were worse off. I have read a lot about these issues, and I was particularly pleased to receive a paper on industry policy released by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia. On page 1, that paper says that it is legitimate for every Western Australian to expect improved living standards. Under the previous Government’s system, the worst off, the lowest paid and the most vulnerable workers in our community went backwards. When this is explained, as I have done, and all the hyperbole and rubbish is taken out, most people will understand notions of fairness. The people who do not understand it are the members opposite.
I had the pleasure last night of addressing a small business forum, attended by about 60 people. The member for Ballajura was also there. I talked about the industrial relations system. I said that, in 1993, when workplace agreements were introduced, the then coalition Opposition promised three things: choice for employees; that no worker would be worse off; and flexibility. In government, the coalition delivered on flexibility, but not on ensuring that no worker would be worse off. In 1993, when I became a back-bench member of this House, I was paid $68 000 a year. In 2001, I was paid $95 000. I consider that I was paid a very good salary. The lowest paid people in this House are the after-hours security officers. In 1993, when they were paid under the award, the contractor at Parliament House was paid $24 an hour. The last time I inquired what the contractor was paid, I was told it was $17 an hour. The people were employed under workplace agreements. I said to the meeting last night that the Government is repealing workplace agreements because it considers that they have had a harsh impact on the lowest paid workers. The coalition lied at the 1993 state election. After my speech, I answered a whole range of questions from the floor. Would members care to guess how many of those questions were on the subject of labour relations? There were absolutely none! I talk to business people around the State all the time, and I find that those people, whether at the big end of town in the resources industry or at the smaller end of town in small business, say that they do not agree with what occurred after the workplace agreements legislation was introduced. They say that the competitive pressures - Mr Barron-Sullivan: No system is perfect, but you should not throw the baby out with the bath water. Mr BROWN: No system is perfect! I would like the Deputy Leader of the Opposition recorded in Hansard saying that, because the former ministers responsible for labour relations always refused to say in this Parliament, although it was true, that any worker was worse off. They always fudged the answer. They would never say that people were worse off. I have read a lot about these issues, and I was particularly pleased to receive a paper on industry policy released by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia. On page 1, that paper says that it is legitimate for every Western Australian to expect improved living standards. Under the previous Government’s system, the worst off, the lowest paid and the most vulnerable workers in our community went backwards. When this is explained, as I have done, and all the hyperbole and rubbish is taken out, most people will understand notions of fairness. The people who do not understand it are the members opposite.
Mr Barron-Sullivan: No system is perfect, but you should not throw the baby out with the bath water. Mr BROWN: No system is perfect! I would like the Deputy Leader of the Opposition recorded in Hansard saying that, because the former ministers responsible for labour relations always refused to say in this Parliament, although it was true, that any worker was worse off. They always fudged the answer. They would never say that people were worse off. I have read a lot about these issues, and I was particularly pleased to receive a paper on industry policy released by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia. On page 1, that paper says that it is legitimate for every Western Australian to expect improved living standards. Under the previous Government’s system, the worst off, the lowest paid and the most vulnerable workers in our community went backwards. When this is explained, as I have done, and all the hyperbole and rubbish is taken out, most people will understand notions of fairness. The people who do not understand it are the members opposite.
Mr BROWN: No system is perfect! I would like the Deputy Leader of the Opposition recorded in Hansard saying that, because the former ministers responsible for labour relations always refused to say in this Parliament, although it was true, that any worker was worse off. They always fudged the answer. They would never say that people were worse off. I have read a lot about these issues, and I was particularly pleased to receive a paper on industry policy released by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia. On page 1, that paper says that it is legitimate for every Western Australian to expect improved living standards. Under the previous Government’s system, the worst off, the lowest paid and the most vulnerable workers in our community went backwards. When this is explained, as I have done, and all the hyperbole and rubbish is taken out, most people will understand notions of fairness. The people who do not understand it are the members opposite.
I have read a lot about these issues, and I was particularly pleased to receive a paper on industry policy released by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia. On page 1, that paper says that it is legitimate for every Western Australian to expect improved living standards. Under the previous Government’s system, the worst off, the lowest paid and the most vulnerable workers in our community went backwards. When this is explained, as I have done, and all the hyperbole and rubbish is taken out, most people will understand notions of fairness. The people who do not understand it are the members opposite.
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