THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (SBFEO) today called for a full Parliamentary inquiry into penalty rates to ensure that the Fair Work Commission’s recent decision is not dumped in the face of political scaremongering and backflips.

The Ombudsman, Kate Carnell, said the Fair Work Commission’s independent decision to scale back some penalty rates for Sunday trading was too important to be subject to a knee-jerk political campaign, which was long on emotional claims and short on the facts.\

“This is too important to be left to petty politicking and flip-flopping without a full review of the potential benefits for jobs and growth in the community,” she said.

“Let’s have a Parliamentary inquiry and put all the facts on the table so the community is not sucked into senseless scare campaigns that end up selling them short by jettisoning sensible measures to grow jobs and promote growth in the small business sector.

“History shows us just how bitter and vitriolic debate about industrial relations can become and how easily facts can become distorted.

“I note the findings of an analysis undertaken by the Department of Employment that found that FWC decision would impact 2.8 per cent of the workforce – or approximately 285,000 people – as opposed to the widely reported 685,000-plus figure mistakenly used by some to politicise the debate.

“For this reason I am supportive of a Parliamentary inquiry to explore publicly and in full the basis of the FWC decision and to forensically examine the details of Enterprise Bargaining Agreements negotiated by unions and big businesses operating on Sundays and public holidays.”

The Fair Work Commission’s independent decision after a two-year review to adjust Sunday penalty rates in select industries has been subject to political attacks and calls for its decision to be overturned.

Labor has rejected the Fair Work Commission’s decision and undertaken to have it set aside. This week One Nation, the Nick Xenophon Team and Senator Derryn Hinch have reversed their previous support for the Fair Work Commission’s decision on penalty rates.

Ms Carnell said that the integrity of the industrial relations system was underpinned by the independence of the Fair Work Commission and it was vital that the setting of minimum wage rates and other terms and conditions were quarantined from political influence.

“All sides of politics acknowledge small business is the engine room of the economy, however, this should not be taken for granted and I encourage all sides of politics to keep this in mind when conducting an ongoing national conversation on this issue,” she said.

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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AT A PUBLIC hearing in Canberra today, industry and business advocacy groups will have their say on new rules for the Australian Government’s $59 billion procurement budget.

The Joint Select Committee on Government Procurement is considering how best to implement revised Commonwealth Procurement Rules.

The revised rules, which came into effect on 1 March 2017, require Commonwealth officials to consider:

• whether products or services being procured comply with Australian standards for goods and services;
• suppliers’ adherence to labour regulations, OH&S and environmental standards;
• the economic benefit of the procurement to the Australian economy; and
• meeting national and international obligations under trade and other agreements.

Committee Chair Senator Nick Xenophon said the revised Commonwealth Procurement Rules aim to increase the competitiveness of Australian businesses when they bid for Australian Government contracts, particularly against their international counterparts.

“The new rules require Commonwealth officials to consider how a procurement can benefit the Australian economy. This levels competition between domestic and international businesses when it comes to supplying the goods and services Australia needs,” Mr Xenophon said.

“However, it is crucial that the new rules are implemented effectively. It is essential that benefits to the Australian economy can be assessed efficiently and quickly without increasing red tape for businesses or government agencies.”

“This public hearing is the first in a series, in which the Committee will seek the perspective of industry, government agencies and the community on the best way to apply the rules.”

A public hearing program and inquiry Terms of Reference are available on the Committee’s website.

Public hearing details: 4pm - 6pm, Wednesday 29 March, Committee Room 2S1, Parliament House, Canberra

This hearing will be streamed live at aph.gov.au/live.

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TODAY the Trade Sub-Committee of the Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) will hear from Austrade and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the first public hearing for its inquiry into Australia’s trade and investment relationship with the United Kingdom.

‘Later today the UK Government will take the next big step towards leaving the European Union by formally notifying the EU of its decision and triggering Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon,’ the Chair of the Trade Sub-Committee, Senator Bridget McKenzie said.

‘So it is timely to hear the latest from both Austrade and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade about the UK’s path towards Brexit and the opportunities and risks ahead for Australian trade and investment with its largest trading partner in Europe at the Trade Sub-Committee’s opening public hearing of its inquiry.’

‘With two-way trade in goods and services worth nearly $27 billion in 2015-16, the UK has long been Australia’s most significant trade and investment partner in Europe. The Sub-Committee will investigate the opportunities to expand these trade and investment links, and also the merits and timing of a proposed bilateral free trade agreement with the UK,’ Senator McKenzie said.

The inquiry is also looking at the significant UK investment in Australia and Australian investment in the UK. In 2015 the UK had direct investments worth $76 billion in Australia, and Australia had direct investments of $81 billion in the UK.

The Trade Sub-Committee invites submissions from any organisation or individual with an interest in Australia’s trade and investment relationship with the UK. Submissions addressing the terms of reference can be lodged by 31 March 2017 but deadline extensions can be discussed. Further details about the inquiry, including how to contribute, can be obtained from the Committee’s web site, www.aph.gov.au/jfadt, or by contacting the Committee Secretariat.

Public hearing details: 10:05am - 11:00am, Wednesday 29 March, Committee Room 2S1, Parliament House, Canberra

This hearing will be streamed live at aph.gov.au/live.

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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THE Queensland Resources Council welcomes the announcement of ‘Project Ruby,’ the Shell Australia/QGC joint venture, that will employ hundreds of people, and inject new gas supply into the east coast gas market.

QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said the announcement was yet another sign that Queensland was getting on with business.

The ‘Project Ruby’ development in the Surat Basin underpins 350 new and existing jobs, which is good news for the local community, and good news for Queensland’s gas supply,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“The QRC is pleased that Queensland is leading the way when it comes to working to address the problem of the east coast gas shortage.”

Up to 161 new wells will be drilled in 2017 and 2018 in QGC’s existing tenements in south-west Queensland.

“This significant milestone for the QGC project is also a vote of confidence in Queensland’s onshore gas industry,” Mr Macfarlane said.
 
“Importantly, this is an investment into regional Queensland, where state and local governments and farmers support the gas industry, resulting in massive economic benefits for local and state governments as well as farmers and rural and regional communities.”

www.qrc.org.au