The Australian, Australia 12 Mar 2021, by Ewin Hannan General News, page 6 - 620.00 cm² National - circulation 94,448 (MTWTF) Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence. ID 1411356991 BRIEF AMMA INDEX 1 PAGE 1 of 2 Senate throws spanner in the works of workplace reform EWIN HANNAN ommended by the Law Council ployees? Does it enable business, WORKPLACE EDITOR especially small and family busi- that would give workers greater nesses, to retain and create jobs? The Morrison government will access to arbitration in disputes And does the legislation make the need to make significant conces- with their employers. IR rules clearer, simpler, cheaper sions to get its industrial relations “I would think it is unlikely (it and quicker for everyone?” changes passed next week, risking will pass next week) as all of us still Senator Patrick said the gov- a business backlash if it submits to have some work to do to get our ernment would need to lock in two Senate crossbench demands to head around all components and crossbench votes before he would give workers greater rights when ensure we don’t end up supporting enter into negotiations over the in dispute with employers. provisions that have unintended bill. He said there was no point With the Coalition wanting the consequences,” he told The Aus- having talks about the bill if it was bill legislated next week to avoid a tralian, adding: “We may well get then going to be substantially political fight over industrial rela- part of the way next week.” changed by any amendments tions in the budget sittings, the agreed with One Nation. government will have to agree to a Business groups are vehemen- A Senate inquiry will hand raft of amendments proposed by tly opposed to the FWC being down its report into the bill on One Nation and crossbencher given greater arbitration powers. Friday, and crossbenchers have Stirling Griff to have any chance of Australian Mines and Metal As- questioned whether they will have getting the three out of five cross- sociation chief executive Steve time to digest its findings before bench votes it needs. Knott called the union-backed the government pursues negotia- One Nation’s Malcolm Rob- tions and a vote next week. erts, who with Pauline Hanson “forced arbitration proposal a job killer for the COVID recovery”. Senator Lambie said Mr Porter holds two crossbench votes, said and his staff had not contacted her on Thursday night the minor party “AMMA urges members of the Senate crossbench to see forced over the past few months about would seek more than 12 amend- the bill. “That’s been really disap- ments across five areas to address arbitration proposals for what they are — a campaign to kill off pointing in itself that he hasn’t “flaws” in the bill. even come to try and sell it to us,” Senator Roberts said One the government’s IR reform bill, she told Sky News. “So certainly, Nation wanted to “diminish ’inter- knowing full well that new forced this is his bill, and we will wait for ference from unwarranted third arbitration processes could not him to come back to deal with it.” parties” — a position that appears possibly be supported by Austra- at odds with Senator Griff, who lia’s business community,” he said. wants increased powers for the ACTU secretary Sally Mc- Fair Work Commission to arbi- Manus said Mr Knott’s comments trate disputes over casual conver- showed employer lobby groups sion requests, wage underpay- did not want workers to be able to ment claims up to $50,000, and enforce their rights. “And because employment condition disputes the Liberal Party does what they relating to new eight-year green- (the employer groups) say, the field agreements. omnibus bill is a fail,” she said. Tasmanian senator Jacqui Senator Roberts said One Na- Lambie on Thursday ruled out tion’s amendments were across negotiating over the bill while the bill’s five areas — casuals, Industrial Relations Minister and modern awards, enterprise agree- Attorney-General Christian Por- ments, greenfield agreements, and ter was away on leave. compliance — and would be And South Australian senator shared with acting Industrial Rela- Rex Patrick said he did not believe tions Minister Michaelia Cash and the bill would be passed next week. crossbenchers on Monday. “Anyone who believes it will be He said One Nation would passed next week needs to be drug continue “working constructively tested,” he told The Australian. with the government and cross- “It is within the realms of possi- bench members to ensure we get bility that it could get passed in the best outcome”. May or June but there would have “(Our) yardstick for quality to be substantial changes.” industrial relations has been: does Senator Griff said he wanted it provide certainty, protection and the government — as “just a start” fairness for employers and em- — to agree to amendments rec- The Australian, Australia 12 Mar 2021, by Ewin Hannan General News, page 6 - 620.00 cm² National - circulation 94,448 (MTWTF) Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence. ID 1411356991 BRIEF AMMA INDEX 1 PAGE 2 of 2 CROSSBENCH AT THE CROSSROADS REX PATRICK – Centre Alliance PAULINE HANSON & MALCOLM ROBERTS – One Nation Will not consider the bill until the government reveals any Want a range of amendments relating to casuals, amendments agreed with One Nation and has their two votes greenfields, protections for workers in enterprise locked in. agreements, awards and compliance. Anyone who believes it will be passed I will not support the bill in its current form, next week needs to be drug tested. and the government needs to be prepared to embrace One Nation’s amendments to rectify and remove the legislation’s flaws. STIRLING GRIFF – Centre Alliance Wants as ‘just a start’ for the government to agree to Law Council amendments that would give workers greater JACQUI LAMBIE access to arbitration in disputes with employers. Has not articulated any desired amendments and does not I would think it is unlikely (it will pass next want bill voted on while Christian Porter is absent. week) as all of us still have some work to do (It’s) been really disappointing in itself that to get our head around all components and (Porter) hasn’t even come to try and sell it ensure we don’t end up supporting provisions to us. So certainly, this is his bill, and we will that have unintended consequences. wait for him to come back to deal with it..