Statement on industrial relations legislation package

Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie does not support the position taken by her Centre Alliance colleague Senator Stirling Griff on the Government's controversial industrial relations legislation package that passed through the Senate today.

The Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia’s Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2020 was pulled apart schedule by schedule in the Senate and the vast majority of the legislation was voted down.

"My colleague and I had agreed that we would only support two parts of the omnibus Bill and only if both the business community and the unions were in agreement," Rebekha said.

"Those parts related to the definition of casual workers and harsher penalties for wage theft.

"We supported the amendments proposed and agreed upon by the ACTU and COSBOA (Council of Small Business Organisations Australia).

"Those amendments did not pass and consequently Stirling voted in a manner that I do not support.

"I simply cannot support any IR reform that is not supported by both COSBOA and the unions.

"I cannot support a package that doesn't include wage theft provisions for workers.

"Where this landed is totally unacceptable. The Government's decision not to support an agreement by COSBOA and the unions was completely wrong so I categorically will not be supporting an amended Bill in my chamber."