I would like to recognise the Ngunnawal people; the traditional owners of the
land on which we meet.
Thank you for the invitation to be here today.
Let me begin by paying tribute to Stephen Jones and his leadership of the
union since 2005 and to congratulate Nadine Flood as we look forward to her new
leadership as National Secretary.
It is very encouraging to see so many officials in the room who are dedicated
to supporting their colleagues and members with workplace relations issues.
It has been a busy very busy two years in workplace relations. Since coming
to power the Rudd Government has got rid of Work Choices, AWAs, passed the Fair
Work Act, created a national workplace relations system, established the Fair
Work Principles for Australian Government procurement and fixed the Australian
Government Employment Bargaining Framework.
Of course, none of this could have been done without the invaluable
assistance, advice and commitment of the Australian Public Service.
I don’t need to tell a gathering of people dedicated to representing the
interests of Australians who work in the public sector how busy and demanding
the last couple of years have been for the APS.
Instead, I would like to make some remarks about the approach of the
Government, in its role as an employer, in addressing the key workplace
relations issues in the APS.
Labor’s commitment to the public sector
The Rudd Government recognises that our public services and institutions have
a critical role to play in building the Australia of the 21st century. As
technology increases access to government, our public services and elected
representatives should become more accountable.
Addressing these challenges will require long-term planning by government
around funding for public services, workforce development and building a better
coordinated public service.
Labor is committed to ensuring that the APS is seen to be a model employer.
This applies in relation to the terms and conditions of employment and
opportunities for advancement for APS staff, including through continuous
education and lifelong learning. We also want to ensure that the APS can attract
the brightest and best in the Australian community.
Labor recognises that:
Australians want a career public service without partisanship;
Public service employment must be fair and equitable;
There is a necessary limit on, and the need for public scrutiny of,
public service remuneration arrangements;
There must be an ethos of public service; and
Outcomes are funded by public money.
There are several working processes under to help us set out the next stages
of reform in the federal public sector, including its workplace relations.
As you know, on 3 September last year the Prime Minister announced an
Advisory Group on Reform of Australian Government Administration, chaired by the
Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Mr Terry Moran.
The Advisory Group’s draft blueprint for reform is now being considered by the
Government.
Developing a positive and ambitious vision for the Australian Public Service
is an important goal for us. Maintaining the high standards of performance and
integrity that have been set in Australia is essential if we are going to offer
the best governance and the best services to the wider Australian community.
As the community and its needs change, this means a readiness to innovate, to
reform and to develop and recognise new skills and capabilities in the public
service.
I will let Terry talk in more detail that work tomorrow.
But I will say that the task of developing a framework for ongoing reform and
renewal of the APS is aligned with our commitment to make sure that the
principles of Fair Work are reflected in workplace relations arrangements for
the public service.
Australian Government Employment Bargaining Framework
The Australian Government Employment Bargaining Framework (Bargaining
Framework) is the Australian Government’s workplace relations policy in relation
to its own employees. The Bargaining Framework aims to:
Ensure fairness and flexibility;
Promote productivity;
Provide sustainable and affordable remuneration arrangements;
Provide for enterprise agreements, negotiated at the agency level, to
set the terms and condition of employment for non-SES employees; and
Enshrine accountability for compliance with the Bargaining Framework
with individual agencies and the relevant portfolio Minister.
You would be aware that the Bargaining Framework was revised from 1 September
2009 to make it consistent with the Fair Work Act.
The amended Bargaining Framework included the requirement that all new APS
enterprise agreements contain a nominal expiry date of no later than 30 June
2011. This requirement was included in order to facilitate a smoother transition
to more stream lined arrangements that the Government will consider over the
next year or so.
In this context, I am aware of the CPSU’s recent calls for the commencement
of bargaining for an APS-wide enterprise agreement. In relation to this, I have
noted the arguments raised in the CPSU’s submission to the Advisory Committee on
Reform of Australian Government Administration.
While I am not in a position today to make any announcements, I can confirm
that the Government is interested in streamlining current APS bargaining
arrangements. We will be considering this in conjunction with the broader public
service reform agenda and when we make a decision, we will work closely with the
CPSU and other public sector unions to achieve the ultimate goal of a more
efficient and dynamic public sector.
Other measures that the amended Bargaining Framework provided included:
A requirement to adopt the model clauses on consultation, flexibility
terms and dispute resolution as provided under the Fair Work Regulations
2009; and
A requirement on Agencies to develop a framework, in consultation with
relevant employee representatives, which outlines responsibilities and
obligations in relation to delegates’ rights within the workplace
Bargaining in the year ahead
These changes to consultation and representatives’ rights will be important
in the future bargaining of agreements under the genuine good faith system that
the Fair Work Act has established.
But not just future bargaining, I am aware that there are a number of key
agencies in the midst of bargaining, or are about to embark on the process
including: the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the
Attorney-General’s Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the
Department of Immigration and Citizenship, the Department of Broadband,
Communications and the Digital Economy, the Australian Customs and Border
Protection Service and Fair Work Australia.
I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that the CPSU will be the key
bargaining representative for most, if not all, of these agreements.
Regarding the requirement under the Bargaining Framework for Agencies to
develop a policy which supports the rights of workplace delegates. I believe
there has been some initial confusion amongst agencies as to what is expected of
them with respect to this requirement.
I can confirm here today that I have asked my department to remind all
agencies that they are required to consult with the CPSU and other relevant
unions to develop a policy supporting the rights of workplace delegates and that
such policies should be in place as soon as practicable regardless of whether an
agency is currently bargaining.
The Australian Government is the largest employer in the nation and all in
all, I believe that the Bargaining Framework is proving to be a successful
workplace relations policy.
The Bargaining Framework is helping to foster a new culture of consultation
and collaboration with unions such as the CPSU across the federal public sector
and I find that very encouraging.
APS Wages and Classifications
Through representations by the CPSU Executive and your recent submission
relating to the 2010-11 Commonwealth Budget, I know that the CPSU is very keen
for a joint review of APS wages and the classification structure. Of particular
concern to the CPSU is the situation where an employee working at a certain
classification level in one agency may receive a different level of pay than an
employee working at the same classification, and in a similar role, at another
agency.
I believe that agency level bargaining has led to significant productivity
improvements over time and that this is the most flexible approach for agencies
to bargain terms and conditions of employment with their employees that suit the
needs of the agency’s operations.
However, the Government is keen to look at APS wages and classification
issues more broadly. This is why we have requested the Deputy Secretaries’
Working Group on APS Remuneration and Classification to undertake initial
research and to investigate the range of factors at play. We expect to consider
the findings of that Working Group alongside the Blueprint for Reform that Mr
Moran has recently brought forward to the Government.
We look forward to working closely with the CPSU in continuing to improve the
workplace arrangements in Australian Government employment.
Abbott and the Return of Work Choices
I cannot talk about continuing to improve the lot of Australian workers
without mentioning the alternative reality that exists. The alternative reality
of a Tony Abbott lead Coalition Government.
Who would have thought that, after the total rejection by the community in
2007, the Liberal Party would once again be trying to impose Work Choices on
Australian workers.
But that is the reality we are faced with; that Australian working families
are faced with. Tony Abbott may not use the words Work Choices but the workplace
relations system he would impose on Australian workers would be very much those
of the extreme Work Choices.
As a labour movement, our challenge in 2010 is to get out there and explain
to community the choices they will face in this year’s election. A return of
Work Choices or decency and respect in the workplace.
The choice is that stark. A choice between:
a Labor government that
believes in fairness and opportunity for all. A Government which values respect
and tolerance; and
Tony Abbott’s Liberals.
And what would an happen under an Abbott Liberal Government:
AWAs will be back, front and centre, every employee for him or herself.
Employers once again being able to choose whether or not they will deal
with a union or not.
Weekend penalty rates – gone.
Award safety net – gone.
Unfair dismissal – gone for over 2 million workers.
Let’s remember that Tony Abbott is the man who said in 2002:
"If we're honest, most of us would accept that a bad boss is a little bit
like a bad father or a bad husband - not withstanding all of his faults you find
he tends to do more good than harm”.
This is Tony Abbott’s view of the world:
You should be grateful, glad you have any job at all, don’t ever
complain, don’t ever protest or seek to change anything for the better.
And this world view is reflected exactly in what the Liberals would do
if they gain government.
Under a Tony Abbott government, if you are a worker with a bad boss –
tough.
You won’t be allowed any help from your union, you won’t be allowed to
join with your colleagues to bargain, don’t expect the protections of an
award safety net, don’t expect help from the independent industrial umpire
and don’t expect to be able to challenge losing your very livelihood if your
bad boss sacks you for no reason. Just be grateful (and apparently quite).
And this is a man so lacking in compassion he refused to re-commit his Party
to our target of halving homelessness.
This is the man who is so arrogant that he rejects the views of the
overwhelming majority of the scientific community and instead proclaims that
climate change is “crap”.
A man who said “paid parental leave over my dead body” and now expects people
to believe he has had a road to Damascus conversion.
A man who took a billion dollars out of the public health system; and hates
it that we call him on it.
Every election is important; that is obvious. However, in the 2010 election
we must fight every inch of the way to prevent Tony Abbott from ever wreaking
his own peculiar brand of misery on the Australian people.
I will see you in the shopping centres, at the polling booths; in the
trenches fighting for a stronger and fairer Australia instead of a return to the
past.
