CRACKS APPEAR IN FEDERAL WORK CHOICE LAWS – THE UNFAIRNESS REMAINS
Published Friday, 22 September, 2006 at 04:23 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Changes to the Federal Government’s industrial relations laws announced today will do little to protect workers with basic unfairness remaining, Queensland Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said today.
Mr Mickel said the announcement by Federal Minister for Employment and Work Place Relations Kevin Andrews show the Liberal Backbench has lost confidence in the Minister.
“First they pressured the Prime Minister into appointing Minister Joe Hockey to be his minder and now they are tinkering around the edges with the Work Choices legislation in an attempt to appear moderate,” he said.
“We all know that major changes are needed to restore fair conditions for workers and remove cumbersome red tape placed on small and medium businesses right around Australia.
“We need to restore a true no disadvantage test in approving agreements between employees and employers.
“There are still many provisions remaining which equate to a raw deal for workers everywhere.”
A Queensland Industrial Relations Commission inquiry into the impact of the Federal Government’s Work Choices laws in Queensland workplaces kicked off its regional tour in Toowoomba today - the first of 10 hearings.
“An Interim Report released by the Commission yesterday reveals that evidence received during its Brisbane sittings shows workers are being dismissed for a variety of reasons including for raising issues of under-award payments or for temporary absence from work due to illness,” Mr Mickel said.
“Repeated examples such as these have forced the Federal Government to make changes to the draconian regulations in a vain attempt to hose down some of the more aggressive employers - in particular, employees not having their pay docked when they are absent from work due to illness.”
Mr Mickel urged all regional employees, employers, organisations, community groups and other interested parties to participate in the inquiry.
“This is the chance for hard working Queenslanders to send a clear message to the Prime Minister that his unfair, unpopular Work Choices regulations will be foremost in voters minds at the next Federal election,” Mr Mickel said.
To register interest in making a submission contact:
The Industrial Registrar
GPO Box 373,
Brisbane Qld 4001
Email: qirc.registry@dir.qld.gov.au;
Fax: (07) 3221 6074 Phone: (07) 3227 8060
Further information is available at www.qirc.qld.gov.au
Hervey Bay: 10.00am Tuesday 26 September Witness(s) to give evidence in Bundaberg or to give telephone evidence to be heard from Brisbane
Southport: 10.00am each day Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 September Southport Court House Cnr Davenport & Hinze Streets, Southport Qld 4215
Cairns: 10.00am Monday 2 October Cairns Court House Sheridan Street, Cairns Qld 4870
Townsville: 10.00am Tuesday 3 October Townsville Court House 31 Walker Street, Townsville Qld 4810
Mackay: 10.00am Wednesday 4 October Mackay Court House 67 Victoria Street, Mackay Qld 4740
Rockhampton: 11.00am Thursday 5 October Rockhampton Court House Cnr East & Fitzroy Street, Rockhampton Qld 4700
Gladstone: 10.00am Friday 6 October Witness(s) to be heard in Rockhampton or to give telephone evidence to be heard from Brisbane
Bundaberg: 10.00am Monday 9 October Bundaberg Court House 44 Quay Street, Bundaberg Qld 4670
Caloundra: 10.00am Tuesday 10 October Caloundra Court House 3 Gregson Place, Caloundra Qld 4551
Media inquiries: Chris Brown (07) 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion (07) 3224 6784
22 September 2006
Mr Mickel said the announcement by Federal Minister for Employment and Work Place Relations Kevin Andrews show the Liberal Backbench has lost confidence in the Minister.
“First they pressured the Prime Minister into appointing Minister Joe Hockey to be his minder and now they are tinkering around the edges with the Work Choices legislation in an attempt to appear moderate,” he said.
“We all know that major changes are needed to restore fair conditions for workers and remove cumbersome red tape placed on small and medium businesses right around Australia.
“We need to restore a true no disadvantage test in approving agreements between employees and employers.
“There are still many provisions remaining which equate to a raw deal for workers everywhere.”
A Queensland Industrial Relations Commission inquiry into the impact of the Federal Government’s Work Choices laws in Queensland workplaces kicked off its regional tour in Toowoomba today - the first of 10 hearings.
“An Interim Report released by the Commission yesterday reveals that evidence received during its Brisbane sittings shows workers are being dismissed for a variety of reasons including for raising issues of under-award payments or for temporary absence from work due to illness,” Mr Mickel said.
“Repeated examples such as these have forced the Federal Government to make changes to the draconian regulations in a vain attempt to hose down some of the more aggressive employers - in particular, employees not having their pay docked when they are absent from work due to illness.”
Mr Mickel urged all regional employees, employers, organisations, community groups and other interested parties to participate in the inquiry.
“This is the chance for hard working Queenslanders to send a clear message to the Prime Minister that his unfair, unpopular Work Choices regulations will be foremost in voters minds at the next Federal election,” Mr Mickel said.
To register interest in making a submission contact:
The Industrial Registrar
GPO Box 373,
Brisbane Qld 4001
Email: qirc.registry@dir.qld.gov.au;
Fax: (07) 3221 6074 Phone: (07) 3227 8060
Further information is available at www.qirc.qld.gov.au
Hervey Bay: 10.00am Tuesday 26 September Witness(s) to give evidence in Bundaberg or to give telephone evidence to be heard from Brisbane
Southport: 10.00am each day Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 September Southport Court House Cnr Davenport & Hinze Streets, Southport Qld 4215
Cairns: 10.00am Monday 2 October Cairns Court House Sheridan Street, Cairns Qld 4870
Townsville: 10.00am Tuesday 3 October Townsville Court House 31 Walker Street, Townsville Qld 4810
Mackay: 10.00am Wednesday 4 October Mackay Court House 67 Victoria Street, Mackay Qld 4740
Rockhampton: 11.00am Thursday 5 October Rockhampton Court House Cnr East & Fitzroy Street, Rockhampton Qld 4700
Gladstone: 10.00am Friday 6 October Witness(s) to be heard in Rockhampton or to give telephone evidence to be heard from Brisbane
Bundaberg: 10.00am Monday 9 October Bundaberg Court House 44 Quay Street, Bundaberg Qld 4670
Caloundra: 10.00am Tuesday 10 October Caloundra Court House 3 Gregson Place, Caloundra Qld 4551
Media inquiries: Chris Brown (07) 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion (07) 3224 6784
22 September 2006