❓ Opposition questions the Premier's refusal to release an industrial relations review before the federal election, citing public concern over potential WorkChoices revival. Premier deflects, stating the report is for government consideration and focuses on modernizing the state system.
AnsweredQoN 367Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS — AMENDOLA REPORT
Given the fear in the community that WorkChoices will be resurrected by the Liberal Party — Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Do not laugh. There is real concern. Given the fear in the community that WorkChoices will be resurrected by the Liberal Party at both state and federal levels, I ask — (1) Why will the Premier not release the report of the $800 000 industrial relations review undertaken by Steven Amendola, a well-known right-wing industrial advocate, before the federal election? (2) Do Western Australians not deserve to see a report that they have paid for so handsomely? Mr C.J. BARNETT
Given the fear in the community that WorkChoices will be resurrected by the Liberal Party — Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Do not laugh. There is real concern. Given the fear in the community that WorkChoices will be resurrected by the Liberal Party at both state and federal levels, I ask — (1) Why will the Premier not release the report of the $800 000 industrial relations review undertaken by Steven Amendola, a well-known right-wing industrial advocate, before the federal election? (2) Do Western Australians not deserve to see a report that they have paid for so handsomely? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
Mr Speaker, it is nice to be back. I thank the Leader of the Opposition. (1)–(2) The only fear about WorkChoices is the fear in the Liberal campaign that people do not care about the issue; that is the only fear. If there is fear in this campaign in this state, it is about the mining tax—that is where the fear is—because that is about jobs and continuity of employment. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Do not laugh. There is real concern. Given the fear in the community that WorkChoices will be resurrected by the Liberal Party at both state and federal levels, I ask — (1) Why will the Premier not release the report of the $800 000 industrial relations review undertaken by Steven Amendola, a well-known right-wing industrial advocate, before the federal election? (2) Do Western Australians not deserve to see a report that they have paid for so handsomely? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: Mr Speaker, it is nice to be back. I thank the Leader of the Opposition. (1)–(2) The only fear about WorkChoices is the fear in the Liberal campaign that people do not care about the issue; that is the only fear. If there is fear in this campaign in this state, it is about the mining tax—that is where the fear is—because that is about jobs and continuity of employment. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : Do not laugh. There is real concern. Given the fear in the community that WorkChoices will be resurrected by the Liberal Party at both state and federal levels, I ask — (1) Why will the Premier not release the report of the $800 000 industrial relations review undertaken by Steven Amendola, a well-known right-wing industrial advocate, before the federal election? (2) Do Western Australians not deserve to see a report that they have paid for so handsomely? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: Mr Speaker, it is nice to be back. I thank the Leader of the Opposition. (1)–(2) The only fear about WorkChoices is the fear in the Liberal campaign that people do not care about the issue; that is the only fear. If there is fear in this campaign in this state, it is about the mining tax—that is where the fear is—because that is about jobs and continuity of employment. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Given the fear in the community that WorkChoices will be resurrected by the Liberal Party at both state and federal levels, I ask — (1) Why will the Premier not release the report of the $800 000 industrial relations review undertaken by Steven Amendola, a well-known right-wing industrial advocate, before the federal election? (2) Do Western Australians not deserve to see a report that they have paid for so handsomely? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: Mr Speaker, it is nice to be back. I thank the Leader of the Opposition. (1)–(2) The only fear about WorkChoices is the fear in the Liberal campaign that people do not care about the issue; that is the only fear. If there is fear in this campaign in this state, it is about the mining tax—that is where the fear is—because that is about jobs and continuity of employment. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
(1) Why will the Premier not release the report of the $800 000 industrial relations review undertaken by Steven Amendola, a well-known right-wing industrial advocate, before the federal election? (2) Do Western Australians not deserve to see a report that they have paid for so handsomely? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: Mr Speaker, it is nice to be back. I thank the Leader of the Opposition. (1)–(2) The only fear about WorkChoices is the fear in the Liberal campaign that people do not care about the issue; that is the only fear. If there is fear in this campaign in this state, it is about the mining tax—that is where the fear is—because that is about jobs and continuity of employment. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
(2) Do Western Australians not deserve to see a report that they have paid for so handsomely? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: Mr Speaker, it is nice to be back. I thank the Leader of the Opposition. (1)–(2) The only fear about WorkChoices is the fear in the Liberal campaign that people do not care about the issue; that is the only fear. If there is fear in this campaign in this state, it is about the mining tax—that is where the fear is—because that is about jobs and continuity of employment. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: Mr Speaker, it is nice to be back. I thank the Leader of the Opposition. (1)–(2) The only fear about WorkChoices is the fear in the Liberal campaign that people do not care about the issue; that is the only fear. If there is fear in this campaign in this state, it is about the mining tax—that is where the fear is—because that is about jobs and continuity of employment. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr Speaker, it is nice to be back. I thank the Leader of the Opposition. (1)–(2) The only fear about WorkChoices is the fear in the Liberal campaign that people do not care about the issue; that is the only fear. If there is fear in this campaign in this state, it is about the mining tax—that is where the fear is—because that is about jobs and continuity of employment. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
(1)–(2) The only fear about WorkChoices is the fear in the Liberal campaign that people do not care about the issue; that is the only fear. If there is fear in this campaign in this state, it is about the mining tax—that is where the fear is—because that is about jobs and continuity of employment. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Do not laugh. There is real concern. Given the fear in the community that WorkChoices will be resurrected by the Liberal Party at both state and federal levels, I ask — (1) Why will the Premier not release the report of the $800 000 industrial relations review undertaken by Steven Amendola, a well-known right-wing industrial advocate, before the federal election? (2) Do Western Australians not deserve to see a report that they have paid for so handsomely? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: Mr Speaker, it is nice to be back. I thank the Leader of the Opposition. (1)–(2) The only fear about WorkChoices is the fear in the Liberal campaign that people do not care about the issue; that is the only fear. If there is fear in this campaign in this state, it is about the mining tax—that is where the fear is—because that is about jobs and continuity of employment. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : Do not laugh. There is real concern. Given the fear in the community that WorkChoices will be resurrected by the Liberal Party at both state and federal levels, I ask — (1) Why will the Premier not release the report of the $800 000 industrial relations review undertaken by Steven Amendola, a well-known right-wing industrial advocate, before the federal election? (2) Do Western Australians not deserve to see a report that they have paid for so handsomely? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: Mr Speaker, it is nice to be back. I thank the Leader of the Opposition. (1)–(2) The only fear about WorkChoices is the fear in the Liberal campaign that people do not care about the issue; that is the only fear. If there is fear in this campaign in this state, it is about the mining tax—that is where the fear is—because that is about jobs and continuity of employment. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Given the fear in the community that WorkChoices will be resurrected by the Liberal Party at both state and federal levels, I ask — (1) Why will the Premier not release the report of the $800 000 industrial relations review undertaken by Steven Amendola, a well-known right-wing industrial advocate, before the federal election? (2) Do Western Australians not deserve to see a report that they have paid for so handsomely? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: Mr Speaker, it is nice to be back. I thank the Leader of the Opposition. (1)–(2) The only fear about WorkChoices is the fear in the Liberal campaign that people do not care about the issue; that is the only fear. If there is fear in this campaign in this state, it is about the mining tax—that is where the fear is—because that is about jobs and continuity of employment. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
(1) Why will the Premier not release the report of the $800 000 industrial relations review undertaken by Steven Amendola, a well-known right-wing industrial advocate, before the federal election? (2) Do Western Australians not deserve to see a report that they have paid for so handsomely? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: Mr Speaker, it is nice to be back. I thank the Leader of the Opposition. (1)–(2) The only fear about WorkChoices is the fear in the Liberal campaign that people do not care about the issue; that is the only fear. If there is fear in this campaign in this state, it is about the mining tax—that is where the fear is—because that is about jobs and continuity of employment. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
(2) Do Western Australians not deserve to see a report that they have paid for so handsomely? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: Mr Speaker, it is nice to be back. I thank the Leader of the Opposition. (1)–(2) The only fear about WorkChoices is the fear in the Liberal campaign that people do not care about the issue; that is the only fear. If there is fear in this campaign in this state, it is about the mining tax—that is where the fear is—because that is about jobs and continuity of employment. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: Mr Speaker, it is nice to be back. I thank the Leader of the Opposition. (1)–(2) The only fear about WorkChoices is the fear in the Liberal campaign that people do not care about the issue; that is the only fear. If there is fear in this campaign in this state, it is about the mining tax—that is where the fear is—because that is about jobs and continuity of employment. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr Speaker, it is nice to be back. I thank the Leader of the Opposition. (1)–(2) The only fear about WorkChoices is the fear in the Liberal campaign that people do not care about the issue; that is the only fear. If there is fear in this campaign in this state, it is about the mining tax—that is where the fear is—because that is about jobs and continuity of employment. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
(1)–(2) The only fear about WorkChoices is the fear in the Liberal campaign that people do not care about the issue; that is the only fear. If there is fear in this campaign in this state, it is about the mining tax—that is where the fear is—because that is about jobs and continuity of employment. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
The SPEAKER : Order! Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are all back; it is great. The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
The report on the industrial relations system is something that the state government has done and should have done. When the Howard government took responsibility for industrial relations under the corporations power, it left the Western Australian jurisdiction with basically a remnant. The state jurisdiction, therefore, covers state government employees—public servants—as is the case in every other state, plus we were the only state that did not hand over responsibility for non-incorporated private businesses; in other words, the small business sector. There has been change. Fair work legislation has come in federally, and we will probably incorporate aspects of that into changes in state law. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : What we have is a long-existing state industrial relations system that no longer has the function or role that it used to. The report looks into that and looks into what we might do. Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Let’s have a look at it then! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am sorry; it is a government report and the government will consider it. It is not about WorkChoices. Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr M. McGowan : It’s $830 000 worth of taxpayers’ money! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, sunshine! Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr Speaker, we will look at that report. It has not been considered — Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr R.H. Cook : Not for seven months! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it has not, because it is not at the top of our agenda. It is not anywhere near the top of this state’s agenda. When that report is considered, we will decide which, if any, of the recommendations we will adopt—and it will be about modernising the Western Australian industrial relations system to make it consistent with the changes that have happened federally. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : When cabinet has considered that report, which will be probably some time this year, then we will release our response, which will be what we will do with the state’s industrial relations system, and at that stage we will release the report. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I stress that we do not have an agenda about establishing WorkChoices in Western Australia.
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