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Home > Our Publications > Australian Outlook> 2007 > August

Stronger net for workers

THE Workplace Authority and Workplace Ombudsman are getting on with the job of helping working Australians.
The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Joe Hockey MP, has welcomed the proclamation of the Fairness Test Bill and the commencement of the regulations.
"The Act provides a stronger safety net for working Australians - especially those earning less than a base salary of $75,000 a year," Minister Hockey said.
"The safety net emphasises fairness while retaining the flexibilities that have helped to deliver record lows in the unemployment rate and strike action and record highs in real wage increases and participation.
"The starting point for trading off penalty rates is money. If non-monetary compensation is agreed between an employer and employee, the compensation must be of equivalent monetary value to what is being traded away.
"The new independent umpire, the Workplace Authority, must be satisfied that the compensation is of significant value to the employee.
"Claims that penalty rates can be traded away for pizza or a barbecue chicken at the end of a shift is just more scare-mongering from Labor and the union bosses.
"Exemptions from the fairness test will only be approved by the Workplace Authority in exceptional circumstances where a business is facing a short-term crisis.
"More than 50,000 agreements have been lodged with the Workplace Authority since May 7. The Fairness Test will be applied promptly and consistently to these agreements.
"The new cop on the beat, the Workplace Ombudsman, will provide additional protection for employees by ensuring employers meet their obligations under the law.
"The independent Workplace Ombudsman has more resources, more powers and a greater focus on vulnerable workers.
"Most employers do the right thing but where an employer deliberately denies rightful entitlements to their employees the Workplace Ombudsman will investigate.
"Employees who feel they are being unfairly treated or would just like more information on their entitlements can call the Workplace Infoline."
The Governor General approved the appointment of Mrs Barbara Bennett as the Director of the new Workplace Authority and Mr Nicholas Wilson as the new Workplace Ombudsman.