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Hansard
- Start of Business
- CONDOLENCES
- QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
- DISTINGUISHED VISITORS
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QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
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Interest Rates
(Swan, Wayne, MP, Howard, John, MP) -
Census
(Southcott, Dr Andrew, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Interest Rates
(Beazley, Kim, MP, Howard, John, MP) -
Middle East
(Jull, David, MP, Downer, Alexander, MP) -
Interest Rates
(Swan, Wayne, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Trade
(Secker, Patrick, MP, Vaile, Mark, MP) -
Interest Rates
(Beazley, Kim, MP, Howard, John, MP) -
Workplace Relations
(Slipper, Peter, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
Workplace Relations
(Smith, Stephen, MP, Howard, John, MP) -
Asia-Pacific Region
(Lindsay, Peter, MP, Nelson, Dr Brendan, MP) -
Fuel Prices
(Fitzgibbon, Joel, MP, Howard, John, MP) -
Indigenous Health
(Tollner, David, MP, Abbott, Tony, MP) -
Fuel Prices
(Swan, Wayne, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Family Relationship Centres
(Fawcett, David, MP, Ruddock, Philip, MP)
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Interest Rates
- QUESTIONS TO THE SPEAKER
- PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS
- QUESTIONS TO THE SPEAKER
- AUDITOR-GENERAL’S REPORTS
- DOCUMENTS
- MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
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THERAPEUTIC GOODS AMENDMENT BILL (NO. 3) 2006
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (EXPORT CONTROL AND QUARANTINE) BILL 2006
AUSTRALIA-JAPAN FOUNDATION (REPEAL AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS) BILL 2006 -
FUEL TAX BILL 2006
FUEL TAX (CONSEQUENTIAL AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS) BILL 2006
PETROLEUM RESOURCE RENT TAX ASSESSMENT AMENDMENT BILL 2006
PETROLEUM RESOURCE RENT TAX (INSTALMENT TRANSFER INTEREST CHARGE IMPOSITION) BILL 2006
TAX LAWS AMENDMENT (2006 MEASURES NO. 3) BILL 2006
NEW BUSINESS TAX SYSTEM (UNTAINTING TAX) BILL 2006
HEALTH LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE) BILL 2006
RENEWABLE ENERGY (ELECTRICITY) AMENDMENT BILL 2006
AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH COUNCIL AMENDMENT BILL 2006
LAW ENFORCEMENT INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER BILL 2006
LAW ENFORCEMENT INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER (CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS) BILL 2006
LAW ENFORCEMENT (AFP PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND RELATED MEASURES) BILL 2006
APPROPRIATION (PARLIAMENTARY DEPARTMENTS) BILL (NO. 1) 2006-2007
APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 1) 2006-2007
APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 2) 2006-2007
APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 5) 2005-2006
APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 6) 2005-2006 -
ELECTORAL AND REFERENDUM AMENDMENT (ELECTORAL INTEGRITY AND OTHER MEASURES) BILL 2006
TAX LAWS AMENDMENT (2006 MEASURES NO. 2) BILL 2006
TAX LAWS AMENDMENT (MEDICARE LEVY AND MEDICARE LEVY SURCHARGE) BILL 2006
ENERGY LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2006
FISHERIES LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (FOREIGN FISHING OFFENCES) BILL 2006
PLANT HEALTH AUSTRALIA (PLANT INDUSTRIES) FUNDING AMENDMENT BILL 2006
AGE DISCRIMINATION AMENDMENT BILL 2006
EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (WELFARE TO WORK AND OTHER MEASURES) (CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS) BILL 2006
APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 1) 2006-2007
APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 2) 2006-2007
APPROPRIATION (PARLIAMENTARY DEPARTMENTS) BILL (NO. 1) 2006-2007
APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 5) 2005-2006
APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 6) 2005-2006
BROADCASTING SERVICES AMENDMENT (SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION DRAMA AND COMMUNITY BROADCASTING LICENCES) BILL 2006
EXCISE LAWS AMENDMENT (FUEL TAX REFORM AND OTHER MEASURES) BILL 2006
EXCISE TARIFF AMENDMENT (FUEL TAX REFORM AND OTHER MEASURES) BILL 2006
CUSTOMS AMENDMENT (FUEL TAX REFORM AND OTHER MEASURES) BILL 2006
CUSTOMS TARIFF AMENDMENT (FUEL TAX REFORM AND OTHER MEASURES) BILL 2006
FUEL TAX BILL 2006
FUEL TAX (CONSEQUENTIAL AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS) BILL 2006
AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH COUNCIL AMENDMENT BILL 2006
DO NOT CALL REGISTER BILL 2006
DO NOT CALL REGISTER (CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS) BILL 2006
RENEWABLE ENERGY (ELECTRICITY) AMENDMENT BILL 2006
HEALTH LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE) BILL 2006
LAW ENFORCEMENT (AFP PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND RELATED MEASURES) BILL 2006
LAW ENFORCEMENT INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER BILL 2006
LAW ENFORCEMENT INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER (CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS) BILL 2006
PETROLEUM RESOURCE RENT TAX ASSESSMENT AMENDMENT BILL 2006
PETROLEUM RESOURCE RENT TAX (INSTALMENT TRANSFER INTEREST CHARGE IMPOSITION) BILL 2006
TAX LAWS AMENDMENT (2006 MEASURES NO. 3) BILL 2006
NEW BUSINESS TAX SYSTEM (UNTAINTING TAX) BILL 2006
FAMILIES, COMMUNITY SERVICES AND INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS AND OTHER LEGISLATION (2006 BUDGET AND OTHER MEASURES) BILL 2006 - AUSTRALIAN TECHNICAL COLLEGES (FLEXIBILITY IN ACHIEVING AUSTRALIA’S SKILLS NEEDS) AMENDMENT BILL 2006
- ADJOURNMENT
- Adjournment
- REQUEST FOR DETAILED INFORMATION
- NOTICES
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QUESTIONS IN WRITING
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Defence: Contracted Staff
(Bevis, Arch, MP, Billson, Bruce, MP) -
Commonwealth Funded Programs
(Grierson, Sharon, MP, Ruddock, Philip, MP) -
Commonwealth Funded Programs
(Grierson, Sharon, MP, Brough, Mal, MP) -
Commonwealth Funded Programs
(Grierson, Sharon, MP, Macfarlane, Ian, MP) -
Commonwealth Funded Programs
(Grierson, Sharon, MP, Truss, Warren, MP) -
Commonwealth Funded Programs
(Grierson, Sharon, MP, Hockey, Joe, MP) -
Commonwealth Funded Programs
(Hoare, Kelly, MP, Howard, John, MP) -
Commonwealth Funded Programs
(Hoare, Kelly, MP, Ruddock, Philip, MP) -
Commonwealth Funded Programs
(Hoare, Kelly, MP, Brough, Mal, MP) -
Commonwealth Funded Programs
(Hoare, Kelly, MP, Macfarlane, Ian, MP) -
Status of Forces Agreement
(McClelland, Robert, MP, Nelson, Dr Brendan, MP) -
Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs: Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(Ferguson, Martin, MP, Brough, Mal, MP) -
Workplace Relations
(Murphy, John, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs: Small Business Payments
(Bowen, Chris, MP, Brough, Mal, MP) - Bowen, Chris, MP, Billson, Bruce, MP
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Legal Services
(Roxon, Nicola, MP, Billson, Bruce, MP) -
Student Assistance
(McClelland, Robert, MP, Bishop, Julie, MP) -
Superannuation
(Hoare, Kelly, MP, Dutton, Peter, MP) -
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry: Contracts
(O’Connor, Brendan, MP, McGauran, Peter, MP) -
Environment and Heritage: Staffing
(Macklin, Jenny, MP, Truss, Warren, MP) -
Veterans’ Affairs: Staffing
(Macklin, Jenny, MP, Billson, Bruce, MP) -
Legal Services
(Roxon, Nicola, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
Legal Services
(Roxon, Nicola, MP, Billson, Bruce, MP) -
Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund Project
(Bowen, Chris, MP, Macfarlane, Ian, MP) -
Lowe Electorate: Australian Vocational Student Prize
(Murphy, John, MP, Bishop, Julie, MP) -
Consultancy Services
(Bowen, Chris, MP, Brough, Mal, MP) -
Consultancy Services
(Bowen, Chris, MP, Brough, Mal, MP) -
Detention Health Strategy
(Murphy, John, MP, Ruddock, Philip, MP) -
Export Finance and Insurance Corporation
(Bowen, Chris, MP, Vaile, Mark, MP) -
Defence Highway Rest Program
(McClelland, Robert, MP, Billson, Bruce, MP) -
Redundancy Payments
(Fitzgibbon, Joel, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Operation Wickenby
(Fitzgibbon, Joel, MP, Dutton, Peter, MP) -
Media Ownership
(Murphy, John, MP, McGauran, Peter, MP) -
Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport
(Albanese, Anthony, MP, Truss, Warren, MP)
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Defence: Contracted Staff
Page: 132
Mr Murphy
asked the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, in writing, on 9 November 2005:
(1) Has he read the article titled ‘PM big on WorkChoices hype, but economists have doubts about the reality’ in the Sydney Morning Herald on 15 October 2005 which reported that economists cannot see where all the employment and productivity improvements are supposed to come from and that most economists would be hoping the big employment gains come from lowering the minimum wage.
(2) What economic modelling has been undertaken by his department to determine the effect of the changes contained in the Work Choices Bill 2005 on (a) employment levels and (b) wage levels in Australia.
(3) Can he confirm that the only economic gains from the Work Choices Bill 2005 will come from lowering the minimum wage; if not, why not.
Mr Andrews (Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service)
—The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:
(1) I am aware of the issues raised in the article.
(2) My Department engaged the Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) at Monash University to undertake economic modelling of the impact of aspects of the workplace relations reforms on key economic variables such as productivity, wages, employment and GDP. The aspects of workplace reform considered were changes to unfair dismissal laws, the benefits of moving to a national system and the changed wage-setting arrangements.
(3) Minimum wages can not fall under the Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) Act 2005 - (the Act). Under the Act, minimum wages will be protected at the level set after the inclusion of the increase from the Australian Industrial Relations Commission’s 2005 Safety Net Review and can not fall below this level. A number of economic gains are expected from WorkChoices such as increased productivity. Productivity improvements are expected to be driven by:
- the shift of workers reliant on awards to other methods of pay setting such as collective and individual agreements. A number of studies have indicated that workers on agreements exhibit higher productivity than those on awards; and
- firms no longer having to divert as many resources to compliance tasks associated with two systems of industrial relations (federal and state).
Employment growth will be stimulated by changes to the unfair dismissal laws which represented a barrier to employment. Further growth is expected through the simplification of procedures that employers must undertake to comply with workplace laws.
The negative impact of the previous unfair dismissal laws was demonstrated by a study titled ‘The Effect of Unfair Dismissal Laws on Small and Medium Sized Businesses’ for the Department by Dr Don Harding of the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research using the (then) Yellow Pages Business Index survey. The study was publicly released on 29 October 2002. It found that:
- the estimated costs to small to medium sized enterprises of complying with unfair dismissal laws amounted to $1.3 billion per year; and
- 11.1 per cent of small to medium sized employers that did not have employees but previously did, were influenced by the unfair dismissal laws in deciding to reduce the number of workers they employed. This translated to the loss of 77,842 jobs in which unfair dismissal played some role (35,000 of those in which unfair dismissal laws played a major role).