Mr McCARTHY - 2013-10-17
Darwin Bus Service drivers are undertaking industrial action as this mean-spirited CLP government has refused to make a reasonable offer for fair wages and conditions that recognises the skyrocketing cost of living in Darwin. Further, our hard-working bus drivers face an environment in their daily workplace where their own safety and that of their passengers can be at risk. Will you commit to return to the negotiating table and make a fair and decent offer to the drivers so they can get back to work?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question, but he has directed that to the wrong minister. That is a question for the Minister for Public Employment.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, the Fair Work Act of the Commonwealth establishes a protected industrial action. The unions have to make an application to the Fair Work Commission to take protected industrial action. I understand all those steps have been taken by the unions, so they are engaged in what is called a protected industrial action: that is, protected by the legislation.
It is my understanding the union advised, on 11 October, of industrial action on 17 October, which conforms with Fair Work Australia requirements. In relation to that, they are acting in a lawful fashion. Nevertheless, I remind them, and other public servants, the longer they hold out the longer the average public servant is losing $80 a fortnight from their pay, and they continue …
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Whilst I appreciate the minister has three minutes to answer the question, I ask you to urge him to come to the point of the question, which was: will he commit to return to the negotiating table and make a fair and decent offer to the drivers so they can get back to work?
Madam SPEAKER: The minister has three minutes to answer the question. Continue, minister.
Mr ELFERINK: The offer on the table is both fair and decent. The inflation rate, particularly after the Labor Party’s carbon tax is removed, will fall well below the projected rate that it currently is, and the current projected rate is still below 3% over the four-year period. As far as we are concerned, this is a good offer, a sound offer. We will go through the process of the protected industrial action, wait for the rest of the public servants to make their vote, and then we will determine the next course of action.
However, we are making a good offer to the public service. It is above CPI, will be well above CPI once the carbon tax is removed over a four-year period. The Labor Party can be as shrill as it likes. What we need in industrial actions are level heads, not the shrieking, hysterical people we have in this Chamber on the benches opposite.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question, but he has directed that to the wrong minister. That is a question for the Minister for Public Employment.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, the Fair Work Act of the Commonwealth establishes a protected industrial action. The unions have to make an application to the Fair Work Commission to take protected industrial action. I understand all those steps have been taken by the unions, so they are engaged in what is called a protected industrial action: that is, protected by the legislation.
It is my understanding the union advised, on 11 October, of industrial action on 17 October, which conforms with Fair Work Australia requirements. In relation to that, they are acting in a lawful fashion. Nevertheless, I remind them, and other public servants, the longer they hold out the longer the average public servant is losing $80 a fortnight from their pay, and they continue …
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Whilst I appreciate the minister has three minutes to answer the question, I ask you to urge him to come to the point of the question, which was: will he commit to return to the negotiating table and make a fair and decent offer to the drivers so they can get back to work?
Madam SPEAKER: The minister has three minutes to answer the question. Continue, minister.
Mr ELFERINK: The offer on the table is both fair and decent. The inflation rate, particularly after the Labor Party’s carbon tax is removed, will fall well below the projected rate that it currently is, and the current projected rate is still below 3% over the four-year period. As far as we are concerned, this is a good offer, a sound offer. We will go through the process of the protected industrial action, wait for the rest of the public servants to make their vote, and then we will determine the next course of action.
However, we are making a good offer to the public service. It is above CPI, will be well above CPI once the carbon tax is removed over a four-year period. The Labor Party can be as shrill as it likes. What we need in industrial actions are level heads, not the shrieking, hysterical people we have in this Chamber on the benches opposite.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016