Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia
TRANSCRIPT
Ross Greenwood
Topics: IR Legislation
31 August 2023
E&OE.
Ross Greenwood
Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations is Senator Michaelia Cash who joins me from Canberra. Michaelia, always good to chat to you. There’s a bottom line here – is this move from the government and Tony Burke going aid the crisis for consumers?
Senator Cash
Well, that was an admission himself by Tony Burke today Ross. So the answer is yes. I think that was what was most disturbing today from the Minister’s speech was a) he openly admits, the changes they are going to introduce will add complexity to what is already considered one of the most complex pieces of legislation in Australia, the Fair Work system and Tony Burke says – yes, I will be adding further complexity to that system. But he also openly admitted himself, that as a result of the changes that he is introducing on Monday, you will pay more as a consumer. So at a time when Australians are struggling with the cost of living crisis, that this government does not have an agenda to address, the Minister openly admits that because of his changes – yes, you will be paying more for the services that you want.
Ross Greenwood
So this is done in the name of fairness, the question is whether there is fairness to all people, why would you need to do this when the unemployment rate is 3.6%? When everybody who needs to get a job right now, theoretically can get one?
Senator Cash
Well, there’s only one answer to that. And that is because you are merely implementing the union’s agenda, when every employer group in Australia stands up and says – these changes will do nothing to add to productivity in Australian businesses, these changes will harm job creation, these changes will probably see people lose their jobs, as the Minister you should listen. But that’s not what Tony Burke is about, he is implementing the union agenda. What I would say to Tony Burke, is this. You gag businesses to date in relation to the consultation by making them sign the non-disclosure agreements. On Monday, you table the legislation, can you please allow the legislation to be properly scrutinized by the relevant Senate committee? So in other words, give us a few months to have a really good look at the legislation, to properly understand its impact on both the employers in Australia, but also independent contractors, service contractors, service providers and employees. But my greatest fear Ross is this – just like with the last piece of industrial relations legislation, the Minister has clear instructions from the union, it will be rammed through the House of Representatives, it will be a short, sharp Senate inquiry, and then guess what it’ll be rammed through the Senate later this year.
Ross Greenwood
Okay, so then you’ve got a situation right now whereby you’ve got the industrial relations laws but then you’ve got a push to try and improve productivity, what the employer groups are saying is this will take the employee productivity backwards?
Senator Cash
And this is the whole point, you cannot wrap the economy up in further red tape and regulation, you cannot admit yourself as the relevant Minister, you are increasing the complexity of the system, an admission by Minister Burke. You cannot yourself as the Minister admit the consumer will pay more because of your changes, and then actually say – well, it’s not going to do anything to harm productivity. Blind Freddy can tell you that. These changes and let’s face it, I haven’t seen the changes. We’ve only heard of some of the changes, the devil is always in the detail with Labor. And I’ll be having a good look at the legislation on Monday. But it’s not going to do anything to enhance productivity in Australia. What it will do is give the Fair Work Commission even more control over employers in Australia. It’ll take away from that important relationship between employers and employees and Tony Burke openly admits he’s also going to be regulating you know independent contractors in the gig economy. How does that work? Independent contractors are just that, independent contractors. I set my own terms, my own conditions, and guess what, I don’t want government anywhere near my life. But with his definition of what the gig economy is, he’s roping in hundreds of thousands of independent contractors across Australia and saying to them, guess what? The Fair Work Commission is now your boss.
Ross Greenwood
Tell you what, Michaelia Cash it’s gonna be fascinating and especially when it is tabled next week to get the detail out there as well. Many thanks for your time on the program today.
Senator Cash
Great to be with you.
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