Mr WOOD - 2004-08-24
You recently released a paper looking at portable long service leave for the NT building and construction industry. Could you please state clearly which workers would be covered by these changes. Would, for instance, a cabinet-making company subcontracting to build cupboards in the offices of a company at Wickham Point require its workers to come under these proposed new long service arrangements while they work on this construction site? Why does this proposal only apply to the construction industry - why not, for instance, the fishing industry and the cattle industry where people are also laid off because there is no work at certain times of the year?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It is a good question, because that level of detail about whether the cabinetmaker subcontracting to a larger construction project is covered is one of those questions under consideration. It is still being worked through in collaboration and consultation with the construction industry reference group, which has before it a number of issues the government is looking at, at the moment. The final detail of that level of coverage, as I said, is still being worked through.
In relation to those other industries not being covered, and why this one now, this was a commitment I made to construction workers as far back as about 1995 or 1996. I challenged the then government to bring in portable long service leave for the construction industry in the Northern Territory on the basis that we were the only jurisdiction that did not offer a participation in what was their state scheme - nationally, obviously - and the ability to cross between that portability and accumulate your entitlements over time - whether you worked in Tasmania, Western Australia or Victoria.
I am very pleased that this government has made that decision and fulfilled that commitment. We are not there yet. Some of the details are still to be worked out, and the member for Nelson put his finger right on one of those little issues. It will be back before government for final consideration, ticked off, and into this House.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It is a good question, because that level of detail about whether the cabinetmaker subcontracting to a larger construction project is covered is one of those questions under consideration. It is still being worked through in collaboration and consultation with the construction industry reference group, which has before it a number of issues the government is looking at, at the moment. The final detail of that level of coverage, as I said, is still being worked through.
In relation to those other industries not being covered, and why this one now, this was a commitment I made to construction workers as far back as about 1995 or 1996. I challenged the then government to bring in portable long service leave for the construction industry in the Northern Territory on the basis that we were the only jurisdiction that did not offer a participation in what was their state scheme - nationally, obviously - and the ability to cross between that portability and accumulate your entitlements over time - whether you worked in Tasmania, Western Australia or Victoria.
I am very pleased that this government has made that decision and fulfilled that commitment. We are not there yet. Some of the details are still to be worked out, and the member for Nelson put his finger right on one of those little issues. It will be back before government for final consideration, ticked off, and into this House.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016