❓ Question concerns the impact of proposed industrial relations changes on mining workers with AWAs, specifically regarding the transition to common law contracts and the ability to maintain existing benefits. The Minister's response focuses on transitional arrangements and criticizes the opposition's concerns.
AnsweredQoN 425Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
AUSTRALIAN WORKPLACE AGREEMENTS - MINING INDUSTRY
Yesterday in this house the minister endorsed the use of Australian workplace agreements in the mining industry and implied that under Kim Beazley’s proposed changes to industrial relations laws, workers on AWAs would be able to almost seamlessly convert from these agreements to common law contracts. In light of these comments, I ask - (1) How can the minister justify these comments, given that the common law contracts cannot replicate the benefits provided through AWAs, because they do not allow for alterations to any of the terms of a union-bargained agreement, no matter how inflexible, restrictive, inefficient or inappropriate those terms may be for both the employer and the employee? (2) Can the minister confirm that under Labor’s plan, workers would not be able to renew an AWA, even if the AWA provides benefits and flexibility above that provided by a collective union agreement or a common law contract? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER
Yesterday in this house the minister endorsed the use of Australian workplace agreements in the mining industry and implied that under Kim Beazley’s proposed changes to industrial relations laws, workers on AWAs would be able to almost seamlessly convert from these agreements to common law contracts. In light of these comments, I ask - (1) How can the minister justify these comments, given that the common law contracts cannot replicate the benefits provided through AWAs, because they do not allow for alterations to any of the terms of a union-bargained agreement, no matter how inflexible, restrictive, inefficient or inappropriate those terms may be for both the employer and the employee? (2) Can the minister confirm that under Labor’s plan, workers would not be able to renew an AWA, even if the AWA provides benefits and flexibility above that provided by a collective union agreement or a common law contract? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(2) Five per cent of the Australian work force is employed under AWAs and 30 per cent are employed under common law contracts. However, we are told by the opposition that the world will fall in and we will go to rack and ruin if we get rid of the way in which five per cent of Australians are employed. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : It is eight per cent in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why didn’t you say that in the first place? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has twisted things around. Five per cent of Australians and eight per cent of Western Australians are employed on AWAs. Is that hard to work out? As I said yesterday, there will be transitional arrangements for those AWAs that are above a standard enterprise bargaining agreement or above the award. I concede that almost 100 per cent of people employed in the mining industry are receiving remuneration that is well above the award rate. As Stephen Smith told me yesterday, and I repeat it in this house, there will be transitional arrangements for those people employed under AWAs and they can go to common law contracts. The Leader of the Opposition said the terms are inflexible in common law contracts. Common law contracts can include the higher pay that workers in the mining industry are getting. We want Western Australian workers to get more money and to maintain their conditions. An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
(1) How can the minister justify these comments, given that the common law contracts cannot replicate the benefits provided through AWAs, because they do not allow for alterations to any of the terms of a union-bargained agreement, no matter how inflexible, restrictive, inefficient or inappropriate those terms may be for both the employer and the employee? (2) Can the minister confirm that under Labor’s plan, workers would not be able to renew an AWA, even if the AWA provides benefits and flexibility above that provided by a collective union agreement or a common law contract? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(2) Five per cent of the Australian work force is employed under AWAs and 30 per cent are employed under common law contracts. However, we are told by the opposition that the world will fall in and we will go to rack and ruin if we get rid of the way in which five per cent of Australians are employed. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : It is eight per cent in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why didn’t you say that in the first place? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has twisted things around. Five per cent of Australians and eight per cent of Western Australians are employed on AWAs. Is that hard to work out? As I said yesterday, there will be transitional arrangements for those AWAs that are above a standard enterprise bargaining agreement or above the award. I concede that almost 100 per cent of people employed in the mining industry are receiving remuneration that is well above the award rate. As Stephen Smith told me yesterday, and I repeat it in this house, there will be transitional arrangements for those people employed under AWAs and they can go to common law contracts. The Leader of the Opposition said the terms are inflexible in common law contracts. Common law contracts can include the higher pay that workers in the mining industry are getting. We want Western Australian workers to get more money and to maintain their conditions. An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
(2) Can the minister confirm that under Labor’s plan, workers would not be able to renew an AWA, even if the AWA provides benefits and flexibility above that provided by a collective union agreement or a common law contract? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(2) Five per cent of the Australian work force is employed under AWAs and 30 per cent are employed under common law contracts. However, we are told by the opposition that the world will fall in and we will go to rack and ruin if we get rid of the way in which five per cent of Australians are employed. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : It is eight per cent in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why didn’t you say that in the first place? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has twisted things around. Five per cent of Australians and eight per cent of Western Australians are employed on AWAs. Is that hard to work out? As I said yesterday, there will be transitional arrangements for those AWAs that are above a standard enterprise bargaining agreement or above the award. I concede that almost 100 per cent of people employed in the mining industry are receiving remuneration that is well above the award rate. As Stephen Smith told me yesterday, and I repeat it in this house, there will be transitional arrangements for those people employed under AWAs and they can go to common law contracts. The Leader of the Opposition said the terms are inflexible in common law contracts. Common law contracts can include the higher pay that workers in the mining industry are getting. We want Western Australian workers to get more money and to maintain their conditions. An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(2) Five per cent of the Australian work force is employed under AWAs and 30 per cent are employed under common law contracts. However, we are told by the opposition that the world will fall in and we will go to rack and ruin if we get rid of the way in which five per cent of Australians are employed. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : It is eight per cent in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why didn’t you say that in the first place? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has twisted things around. Five per cent of Australians and eight per cent of Western Australians are employed on AWAs. Is that hard to work out? As I said yesterday, there will be transitional arrangements for those AWAs that are above a standard enterprise bargaining agreement or above the award. I concede that almost 100 per cent of people employed in the mining industry are receiving remuneration that is well above the award rate. As Stephen Smith told me yesterday, and I repeat it in this house, there will be transitional arrangements for those people employed under AWAs and they can go to common law contracts. The Leader of the Opposition said the terms are inflexible in common law contracts. Common law contracts can include the higher pay that workers in the mining industry are getting. We want Western Australian workers to get more money and to maintain their conditions. An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(2) Five per cent of the Australian work force is employed under AWAs and 30 per cent are employed under common law contracts. However, we are told by the opposition that the world will fall in and we will go to rack and ruin if we get rid of the way in which five per cent of Australians are employed. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : It is eight per cent in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why didn’t you say that in the first place? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has twisted things around. Five per cent of Australians and eight per cent of Western Australians are employed on AWAs. Is that hard to work out? As I said yesterday, there will be transitional arrangements for those AWAs that are above a standard enterprise bargaining agreement or above the award. I concede that almost 100 per cent of people employed in the mining industry are receiving remuneration that is well above the award rate. As Stephen Smith told me yesterday, and I repeat it in this house, there will be transitional arrangements for those people employed under AWAs and they can go to common law contracts. The Leader of the Opposition said the terms are inflexible in common law contracts. Common law contracts can include the higher pay that workers in the mining industry are getting. We want Western Australian workers to get more money and to maintain their conditions. An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
(1)-(2) Five per cent of the Australian work force is employed under AWAs and 30 per cent are employed under common law contracts. However, we are told by the opposition that the world will fall in and we will go to rack and ruin if we get rid of the way in which five per cent of Australians are employed. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : It is eight per cent in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why didn’t you say that in the first place? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has twisted things around. Five per cent of Australians and eight per cent of Western Australians are employed on AWAs. Is that hard to work out? As I said yesterday, there will be transitional arrangements for those AWAs that are above a standard enterprise bargaining agreement or above the award. I concede that almost 100 per cent of people employed in the mining industry are receiving remuneration that is well above the award rate. As Stephen Smith told me yesterday, and I repeat it in this house, there will be transitional arrangements for those people employed under AWAs and they can go to common law contracts. The Leader of the Opposition said the terms are inflexible in common law contracts. Common law contracts can include the higher pay that workers in the mining industry are getting. We want Western Australian workers to get more money and to maintain their conditions. An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : It is eight per cent in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why didn’t you say that in the first place? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has twisted things around. Five per cent of Australians and eight per cent of Western Australians are employed on AWAs. Is that hard to work out? As I said yesterday, there will be transitional arrangements for those AWAs that are above a standard enterprise bargaining agreement or above the award. I concede that almost 100 per cent of people employed in the mining industry are receiving remuneration that is well above the award rate. As Stephen Smith told me yesterday, and I repeat it in this house, there will be transitional arrangements for those people employed under AWAs and they can go to common law contracts. The Leader of the Opposition said the terms are inflexible in common law contracts. Common law contracts can include the higher pay that workers in the mining industry are getting. We want Western Australian workers to get more money and to maintain their conditions. An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : It is eight per cent in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why didn’t you say that in the first place? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has twisted things around. Five per cent of Australians and eight per cent of Western Australians are employed on AWAs. Is that hard to work out? As I said yesterday, there will be transitional arrangements for those AWAs that are above a standard enterprise bargaining agreement or above the award. I concede that almost 100 per cent of people employed in the mining industry are receiving remuneration that is well above the award rate. As Stephen Smith told me yesterday, and I repeat it in this house, there will be transitional arrangements for those people employed under AWAs and they can go to common law contracts. The Leader of the Opposition said the terms are inflexible in common law contracts. Common law contracts can include the higher pay that workers in the mining industry are getting. We want Western Australian workers to get more money and to maintain their conditions. An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Why didn’t you say that in the first place? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has twisted things around. Five per cent of Australians and eight per cent of Western Australians are employed on AWAs. Is that hard to work out? As I said yesterday, there will be transitional arrangements for those AWAs that are above a standard enterprise bargaining agreement or above the award. I concede that almost 100 per cent of people employed in the mining industry are receiving remuneration that is well above the award rate. As Stephen Smith told me yesterday, and I repeat it in this house, there will be transitional arrangements for those people employed under AWAs and they can go to common law contracts. The Leader of the Opposition said the terms are inflexible in common law contracts. Common law contracts can include the higher pay that workers in the mining industry are getting. We want Western Australian workers to get more money and to maintain their conditions. An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has twisted things around. Five per cent of Australians and eight per cent of Western Australians are employed on AWAs. Is that hard to work out? As I said yesterday, there will be transitional arrangements for those AWAs that are above a standard enterprise bargaining agreement or above the award. I concede that almost 100 per cent of people employed in the mining industry are receiving remuneration that is well above the award rate. As Stephen Smith told me yesterday, and I repeat it in this house, there will be transitional arrangements for those people employed under AWAs and they can go to common law contracts. The Leader of the Opposition said the terms are inflexible in common law contracts. Common law contracts can include the higher pay that workers in the mining industry are getting. We want Western Australian workers to get more money and to maintain their conditions. An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
(1) How can the minister justify these comments, given that the common law contracts cannot replicate the benefits provided through AWAs, because they do not allow for alterations to any of the terms of a union-bargained agreement, no matter how inflexible, restrictive, inefficient or inappropriate those terms may be for both the employer and the employee? (2) Can the minister confirm that under Labor’s plan, workers would not be able to renew an AWA, even if the AWA provides benefits and flexibility above that provided by a collective union agreement or a common law contract? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(2) Five per cent of the Australian work force is employed under AWAs and 30 per cent are employed under common law contracts. However, we are told by the opposition that the world will fall in and we will go to rack and ruin if we get rid of the way in which five per cent of Australians are employed. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : It is eight per cent in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why didn’t you say that in the first place? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has twisted things around. Five per cent of Australians and eight per cent of Western Australians are employed on AWAs. Is that hard to work out? As I said yesterday, there will be transitional arrangements for those AWAs that are above a standard enterprise bargaining agreement or above the award. I concede that almost 100 per cent of people employed in the mining industry are receiving remuneration that is well above the award rate. As Stephen Smith told me yesterday, and I repeat it in this house, there will be transitional arrangements for those people employed under AWAs and they can go to common law contracts. The Leader of the Opposition said the terms are inflexible in common law contracts. Common law contracts can include the higher pay that workers in the mining industry are getting. We want Western Australian workers to get more money and to maintain their conditions. An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
(2) Can the minister confirm that under Labor’s plan, workers would not be able to renew an AWA, even if the AWA provides benefits and flexibility above that provided by a collective union agreement or a common law contract? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(2) Five per cent of the Australian work force is employed under AWAs and 30 per cent are employed under common law contracts. However, we are told by the opposition that the world will fall in and we will go to rack and ruin if we get rid of the way in which five per cent of Australians are employed. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : It is eight per cent in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why didn’t you say that in the first place? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has twisted things around. Five per cent of Australians and eight per cent of Western Australians are employed on AWAs. Is that hard to work out? As I said yesterday, there will be transitional arrangements for those AWAs that are above a standard enterprise bargaining agreement or above the award. I concede that almost 100 per cent of people employed in the mining industry are receiving remuneration that is well above the award rate. As Stephen Smith told me yesterday, and I repeat it in this house, there will be transitional arrangements for those people employed under AWAs and they can go to common law contracts. The Leader of the Opposition said the terms are inflexible in common law contracts. Common law contracts can include the higher pay that workers in the mining industry are getting. We want Western Australian workers to get more money and to maintain their conditions. An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(2) Five per cent of the Australian work force is employed under AWAs and 30 per cent are employed under common law contracts. However, we are told by the opposition that the world will fall in and we will go to rack and ruin if we get rid of the way in which five per cent of Australians are employed. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : It is eight per cent in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why didn’t you say that in the first place? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has twisted things around. Five per cent of Australians and eight per cent of Western Australians are employed on AWAs. Is that hard to work out? As I said yesterday, there will be transitional arrangements for those AWAs that are above a standard enterprise bargaining agreement or above the award. I concede that almost 100 per cent of people employed in the mining industry are receiving remuneration that is well above the award rate. As Stephen Smith told me yesterday, and I repeat it in this house, there will be transitional arrangements for those people employed under AWAs and they can go to common law contracts. The Leader of the Opposition said the terms are inflexible in common law contracts. Common law contracts can include the higher pay that workers in the mining industry are getting. We want Western Australian workers to get more money and to maintain their conditions. An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. (1)-(2) Five per cent of the Australian work force is employed under AWAs and 30 per cent are employed under common law contracts. However, we are told by the opposition that the world will fall in and we will go to rack and ruin if we get rid of the way in which five per cent of Australians are employed. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : It is eight per cent in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why didn’t you say that in the first place? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has twisted things around. Five per cent of Australians and eight per cent of Western Australians are employed on AWAs. Is that hard to work out? As I said yesterday, there will be transitional arrangements for those AWAs that are above a standard enterprise bargaining agreement or above the award. I concede that almost 100 per cent of people employed in the mining industry are receiving remuneration that is well above the award rate. As Stephen Smith told me yesterday, and I repeat it in this house, there will be transitional arrangements for those people employed under AWAs and they can go to common law contracts. The Leader of the Opposition said the terms are inflexible in common law contracts. Common law contracts can include the higher pay that workers in the mining industry are getting. We want Western Australian workers to get more money and to maintain their conditions. An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
(1)-(2) Five per cent of the Australian work force is employed under AWAs and 30 per cent are employed under common law contracts. However, we are told by the opposition that the world will fall in and we will go to rack and ruin if we get rid of the way in which five per cent of Australians are employed. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : It is eight per cent in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why didn’t you say that in the first place? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has twisted things around. Five per cent of Australians and eight per cent of Western Australians are employed on AWAs. Is that hard to work out? As I said yesterday, there will be transitional arrangements for those AWAs that are above a standard enterprise bargaining agreement or above the award. I concede that almost 100 per cent of people employed in the mining industry are receiving remuneration that is well above the award rate. As Stephen Smith told me yesterday, and I repeat it in this house, there will be transitional arrangements for those people employed under AWAs and they can go to common law contracts. The Leader of the Opposition said the terms are inflexible in common law contracts. Common law contracts can include the higher pay that workers in the mining industry are getting. We want Western Australian workers to get more money and to maintain their conditions. An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : It is eight per cent in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why didn’t you say that in the first place? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has twisted things around. Five per cent of Australians and eight per cent of Western Australians are employed on AWAs. Is that hard to work out? As I said yesterday, there will be transitional arrangements for those AWAs that are above a standard enterprise bargaining agreement or above the award. I concede that almost 100 per cent of people employed in the mining industry are receiving remuneration that is well above the award rate. As Stephen Smith told me yesterday, and I repeat it in this house, there will be transitional arrangements for those people employed under AWAs and they can go to common law contracts. The Leader of the Opposition said the terms are inflexible in common law contracts. Common law contracts can include the higher pay that workers in the mining industry are getting. We want Western Australian workers to get more money and to maintain their conditions. An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : It is eight per cent in Western Australia. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why didn’t you say that in the first place? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has twisted things around. Five per cent of Australians and eight per cent of Western Australians are employed on AWAs. Is that hard to work out? As I said yesterday, there will be transitional arrangements for those AWAs that are above a standard enterprise bargaining agreement or above the award. I concede that almost 100 per cent of people employed in the mining industry are receiving remuneration that is well above the award rate. As Stephen Smith told me yesterday, and I repeat it in this house, there will be transitional arrangements for those people employed under AWAs and they can go to common law contracts. The Leader of the Opposition said the terms are inflexible in common law contracts. Common law contracts can include the higher pay that workers in the mining industry are getting. We want Western Australian workers to get more money and to maintain their conditions. An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Why didn’t you say that in the first place? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has twisted things around. Five per cent of Australians and eight per cent of Western Australians are employed on AWAs. Is that hard to work out? As I said yesterday, there will be transitional arrangements for those AWAs that are above a standard enterprise bargaining agreement or above the award. I concede that almost 100 per cent of people employed in the mining industry are receiving remuneration that is well above the award rate. As Stephen Smith told me yesterday, and I repeat it in this house, there will be transitional arrangements for those people employed under AWAs and they can go to common law contracts. The Leader of the Opposition said the terms are inflexible in common law contracts. Common law contracts can include the higher pay that workers in the mining industry are getting. We want Western Australian workers to get more money and to maintain their conditions. An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has twisted things around. Five per cent of Australians and eight per cent of Western Australians are employed on AWAs. Is that hard to work out? As I said yesterday, there will be transitional arrangements for those AWAs that are above a standard enterprise bargaining agreement or above the award. I concede that almost 100 per cent of people employed in the mining industry are receiving remuneration that is well above the award rate. As Stephen Smith told me yesterday, and I repeat it in this house, there will be transitional arrangements for those people employed under AWAs and they can go to common law contracts. The Leader of the Opposition said the terms are inflexible in common law contracts. Common law contracts can include the higher pay that workers in the mining industry are getting. We want Western Australian workers to get more money and to maintain their conditions. An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
An hour ago I attended a rally in Russell Square at which Bishop Tom Wilmott spoke. Bishop Tom Wilmott looks after the goldfields and Perth. Bishop Tom told the rally that he has seen the future. I spoke to him at the end of the rally and told him that I agreed with him. He said, “You and I have seen over the hill.” In the goldfields we have had work choices, similar to the system we can expect, for the past 10 years and I do not like what I see.
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