Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
TRANSCRIPT
Sky News Afternoon Agenda
Topics: Same Job, Same Pay
7 December 2023
E&OE.
Kieran Gilbert
Michaelia Cash joins me live in the studio now. Thanks for your company. Why shouldn’t the loophole as the government calls it, but if you’ve got a worker inside a mining company, as an employee, why shouldn’t they receive the same income as someone doing the same job from via a labour hire firm?
Senator Cash
And that is the entire problem with this part of the bill Kieran, it was never about labour hire. Service contractors, despite what Mr. Burke says, are still included. So you have an economy wide reach. But I have to say this, this bill was always going to go through the parliament, Kieran. All we had wanted, as the Coalition and business groups was the opportunity to properly scrutinize it – to understand the actual impacts on the business community. Because as we know, it’s employers who create jobs in Australia, not the government. The government just puts in place a framework.
Kieran Gilbert
So, what happens now in your view? Now, that it is passing today?
Senator Cash
Well, the business groups today have come out and said – in relation to those aspects of the bill, the labour hire parts, it is going to have an impact on them, and in particular, the way they conduct their businesses, service contractors in Australia, they still have to litigate themselves out of being caught up in this bill. But I think what you saw today Kieran, more than anything was, this is a government that took big on transparency. Well, where is the transparency today? Where was the discussion with the employers this week saying – we’ve struck a deal with the crossbench and guess what we’re going to bring forward parts of this bill.
Kieran Gilbert
What do you say to the argument that this part of the bill that’s gone through that the labor higher slash, you know, same job, same, a part of the bill. That this is all about two companies – Qantas and BHP. There they were the two companies that have exploited that the most?
Senator Cash
Well, in the first instance, that’s the problem with the bill then, isn’t it? It’s not about two companies, and it’s not about labour hire. That is the entire issue that employers across Australia have had with this bill, the unintended consequences. Or should I say in Mr. Burke’s case, the intended consequences. Labour hire, service contractors are still included, they have to litigate themselves out, which means additional cost for business, additional regulatory burden, and ultimately what happens, they pass the costs on to the consumer. But as I said, what this reflects is a breach of trust with the Australian Senate, a breach of trust with employers. I accept the bill was always going to go through but what I don’t accept is a government that talk big about transparency, just rushes the bill through on the last day of sitting with no debate.
Kieran Gilbert
On the preventative detention framework and the release of the non-citizens.
Senator Cash
Yes.
Kieran Gilbert
Former detainees, a fifth person has now been arrested. Does this show though that our law enforcement agencies are on the ball? How are they monitoring these individuals closely enough to pull them in when needed?
Senator Cash
No, because what it shows and in particular, in relation to the fifth detainee today, the government didn’t do the checks before they released them. Had they done a proper check on the detainees, they would have worked out that this guy did have an outstanding warrant. This has just been an absolute train wreck by this government, compromising the safety and security of Australians. Seriously Kieran, day after day we wake up – another detainee, another detainee, it is not good enough. Mr. Albanese should front the Australian people, he’s been suspiciously quiet on this and apologize to them for the absolute debacle he has made of this issue. Quite frankly, it is unacceptable.
Kieran Gilbert
The Coalition has argued for several weeks – in fact, since this case was decided by the High Court that there should be a preventative this detention framework in place. Given that this is where with, we’ve got to at the end of that process. Do you do welcome that at least as the final outcome?
Senator Cash
Peter Dutton has been saying from day one, introduce a preventative detention regime. And do you know what the Labor Party have been saying? It’s not possible. Why wasn’t this done four weeks ago? They were saying though they were waiting for the High Court reasons? Oh, please come on. Then, why did they release all of the detainees? The orders applied to one detainee? They did not have the reasons for the decision. That meant they could not apply the principles to the rest of the cohort. That government is all over the shop here. They want Australians to believe their lies. This lies squarely on the government’s head. They have compromised the safety and security of Australians. But what’s worse is – Mr. Ben Brika, our most notorious terrorist is soon due for release, to be let out onto the Australian streets. And guess what we found out last night, the Attorney-General did not apply for another continuing detention order. So Mr. Albanese has questions now to answer in relation to why his government did not apply for a continuing detention order in relation to Australia’s most notorious terror?
Kieran Gilbert
Well, we will stay on that one.
Senator Cash
Absolutely.
Kieran Gilbert
And keep monitoring it, I appreciate your time and we’ll talk to you soon.
Senator Cash
Great to be with you always.
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