❓ Dr. Honey questions the Premier regarding new federal laws enabling unions to bargain without majority workforce support, alleging a potential power grab. The Premier defends WA's industrial relations approach, emphasizing collaboration and addressing concerns about criminal activity, while highlighting the Liberal Party's stance on related federal legislation.
AnsweredQoN 514Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
UNIONS — COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
514. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Premier:
I refer to new federal laws brought
in earlier this year that enable unions to start collective bargaining without
majority support of the workforce they claim to represent.
(1) Does the
Premier believe that companies and employees should have the choice to work
with unions and not be coerced or forced into it by government policy?
(2) Given the
current concerns regarding criminal conduct and union activity, will the
Premier stand up for Western Australian businesses against this blatant power
grab, or will he simply support his union mates?
514. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Premier:
I refer to new federal laws brought
in earlier this year that enable unions to start collective bargaining without
majority support of the workforce they claim to represent.
(1) Does the
Premier believe that companies and employees should have the choice to work
with unions and not be coerced or forced into it by government policy?
(2) Given the
current concerns regarding criminal conduct and union activity, will the
Premier stand up for Western Australian businesses against this blatant power
grab, or will he simply support his union mates?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
think, in the first instance, the member was asking for an opinion from me on
some federal laws that do not really fall into my portfolios.
The SPEAKER : On that point, Premier, if you look to
the standing orders, you cannot ask for an opinion in a question. You can ask
ministers or the Premier about matters in their portfolios; with the Premier,
it is pretty much all portfolios. You can also ask the leader of a party about
party matters. The Premier is quite right in raising that point and I ask him
to address those parts of the question that are appropriate for him to address.
Mr R.H. COOK : Thank you,
Madam Speaker. Obviously, I want Western Australian workers and their representatives to be able to work with Western Australian
employers to get great outcomes for the Western Australian economy. I want
jobs to be generated here for Western Australian families and I want to make
sure that Western Australia is a place for people to do business, and that is
what it is. I cannot comment on the federal laws and the impact they may have.
Although I can say that I think when employers work in partnership with unions,
they get great outcomes. They have happy workers, they attract more workers and
they have higher retention rates, and that has always been thus. I expect that
to continue, particularly in the Pilbara, where we see the workers and the
companies that drive the national economy. I have utmost respect for all
involved.
I will also say that the member made
some veiled references to criminal activity. I can only assume that he is
referring to the criminal activity alleged in the public media about a union on
the east coast. To my knowledge, no allegations have been substantiated with
regard to any mining union in Western Australia. If they are, I just say, as we
have been doing for a while now, ever since Parliament returned, members
opposite have to put up or they have to shut up. We want to make sure that our
workplaces are constructive workplaces, particularly in construction and other
industries that have high levels of risk for workers. That is the reason, on
returning from leave recently, I made a commitment that the government will
introduce laws for a fit and proper person test for the right of entry. I continue
to talk to industry and no-one is suggesting to me that the activities of the
CFMEU seen on the east coast are the same as those seen on the west coast. I have
already said that if the federal government and/or the WorkSafe WA Commissioner
and/or the Fair Work Ombudsman move to place the CFMEU into administration
because they believe there are reasons to do so, I will absolutely support it.
From that point of view, we will wait to see what the federal government's
intentions are on this.
I might add that the federal
government has said that it wants to see these laws passed speedily to make
sure that the federal minister can intervene
in the matters on the east coast as a matter of urgency. I notice that only one
political party is standing in the way of those laws passing through the
Parliament quickly, and that is the Liberal Party. The member opposite would
like to see reflected on my government the activities of industrial law reform
on the east coast, but he has to remember that if he is going to do that, he
also has to accept the activities of his federal leader who has, to date, stood
in the way of the speedy passage of this legislation. He should answer that
question.
think, in the first instance, the member was asking for an opinion from me on
some federal laws that do not really fall into my portfolios.
The SPEAKER : On that point, Premier, if you look to
the standing orders, you cannot ask for an opinion in a question. You can ask
ministers or the Premier about matters in their portfolios; with the Premier,
it is pretty much all portfolios. You can also ask the leader of a party about
party matters. The Premier is quite right in raising that point and I ask him
to address those parts of the question that are appropriate for him to address.
Mr R.H. COOK : Thank you,
Madam Speaker. Obviously, I want Western Australian workers and their representatives to be able to work with Western Australian
employers to get great outcomes for the Western Australian economy. I want
jobs to be generated here for Western Australian families and I want to make
sure that Western Australia is a place for people to do business, and that is
what it is. I cannot comment on the federal laws and the impact they may have.
Although I can say that I think when employers work in partnership with unions,
they get great outcomes. They have happy workers, they attract more workers and
they have higher retention rates, and that has always been thus. I expect that
to continue, particularly in the Pilbara, where we see the workers and the
companies that drive the national economy. I have utmost respect for all
involved.
I will also say that the member made
some veiled references to criminal activity. I can only assume that he is
referring to the criminal activity alleged in the public media about a union on
the east coast. To my knowledge, no allegations have been substantiated with
regard to any mining union in Western Australia. If they are, I just say, as we
have been doing for a while now, ever since Parliament returned, members
opposite have to put up or they have to shut up. We want to make sure that our
workplaces are constructive workplaces, particularly in construction and other
industries that have high levels of risk for workers. That is the reason, on
returning from leave recently, I made a commitment that the government will
introduce laws for a fit and proper person test for the right of entry. I continue
to talk to industry and no-one is suggesting to me that the activities of the
CFMEU seen on the east coast are the same as those seen on the west coast. I have
already said that if the federal government and/or the WorkSafe WA Commissioner
and/or the Fair Work Ombudsman move to place the CFMEU into administration
because they believe there are reasons to do so, I will absolutely support it.
From that point of view, we will wait to see what the federal government's
intentions are on this.
I might add that the federal
government has said that it wants to see these laws passed speedily to make
sure that the federal minister can intervene
in the matters on the east coast as a matter of urgency. I notice that only one
political party is standing in the way of those laws passing through the
Parliament quickly, and that is the Liberal Party. The member opposite would
like to see reflected on my government the activities of industrial law reform
on the east coast, but he has to remember that if he is going to do that, he
also has to accept the activities of his federal leader who has, to date, stood
in the way of the speedy passage of this legislation. He should answer that
question.
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