SHADOW MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS – SENATOR THE HON MICHAELIA CASH
SHADOW MINISTER FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND THE DIGITAL ECONOMY & MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE – THE HON PAUL FLETCHER MP
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
10 November 2022
ARROGANT LABOR RAMS THROUGH RADICAL IR BILL
In a cynical display of extreme arrogance, the Albanese Government today rammed its extreme industrial relations legislation through the House of Representatives.
Labor’s Bill will devastate the Australian economy by delivering increased workplace conflict, more strikes and fewer jobs.
After putting in place a set of standing orders to severely curtail debate, the Minister responsible, Tony Burke, even gagged debate on the final proposed amendment.
“This is a terrible Bill rammed through in a disgraceful abuse of the Parliament,’’ Senator Cash said.
“With this Bill imposing such drastic changes to our IR system the very least Parliament deserved was adequate time for debate,’’ she said.
Manger of Opposition Business in the House, Paul Fletcher said: “The Albanese Government chose to limit accountability and debate on this complex and damaging Bill.’’
“The House was stopped by the Albanese Government from doing its job properly by not being allowed to adequately scrutinise this Bill,’’ he said.
“The Albanese Labor Government was clearly motivated by giving Australians as little time as possible to learn about these radical changes which threaten to take Australians workplace relations back to the bad old days of the 1970s, with frequent strikes, union thuggery and – as a result – poor economic performance,” Mr Fletcher said.
Senator Cash said the Bill would now come before the Senate where the Coalition would fight against it every step of the way.
“Every major business group, representing small, medium and large businesses, including the National Farmers’ Federation, came together today in an unprecedented display of solidarity against this Bill, saying that it should not be passed by Parliament,’’ Senator Cash said.
“The reason they said that was because they know the devastation it will bring to the Australian economy,’’ she said.
“This Bill ushers in multi-employer bargaining that will lead to more strikes and fewer jobs,” Senator Cash said.
“It will have a particularly devastating effect on small businesses, the backbone of our economy,’’ she said.
Senator Cash said the Bill takes the setting of wages and conditions out of the hands of businesses and their staff and promotes a one size fits all approach.
“This will hand workplaces, including small businesses, over to unions, who of course are this Government’s paymasters,’’ she said.
“At a time when Australians are struggling with cost of living pressures, rising interest rates and soaring power prices this Bill is the last thing this nation needs,’’ she said.
ENDS
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