7th Dec 2023, 12:17 PM – Senate Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023 - Second Reading - Reference to Education and Employment Legislation Committee

The majority voted against an amendment to the usual second reading motion, which is "that the bill be read a second time" (to read a bill for a second time is parliamentary jargon for agreeing with its main idea). This amendment was introduced by South Australian Senator Anne Ruston (Liberal) at the request of West Australian Senator Michaelia Cash (Liberal).

Amendment text

At the end of the motion, add ", and:

(a) the Senate notes that:

(i) this is a devastating day for Australian businesses, with members of the crossbench siding with the Albanese Labor Government to pass through highly contentious labour market regulation before it receives proper parliamentary scrutiny through the Senate inquiry process,

(ii) the Government's new labour hire laws will substantially increase the burden and costs imposed on businesses using legitimate labour hire arrangements to meet demand surges or remedy staff shortages, and that these costs will be ultimately passed on to consumers in a cost of living crisis,

(iii) the Government's new labour hire laws are incompatible with a modern labour market that must be flexible, dynamic, and rewarding for workers, and

(iv) the Coalition support amendments which address small business redundancy exemptions, industrial manslaughter, protections against discrimination, wage theft, the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency and first responders PTSD changes; and

(b) Part 6 of Schedule 1 (which abolishes modern and flexible workplace arrangements) and Part 7 of Schedule 1 (which gives unions unprecedented access to Australian workplaces) be referred to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 1 February 2024".