Ash Ambihaipahar
Barton · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“They enable earlier, more effective information-sharing to support continuity of care, proactive outreach and smoother transition arrangements, including the earlier transfer of relevant information from Defence to DVA so that claims are processed faster, compensation reaches people sooner and individuals identified as being at increased…”
“Care is not yielding; care is valued work, and we are building a system that treats it that way. He speaks of the social conditions for hope. For too many Australians, homeownership has become a source of despair, rather than aspiration. First home buyers can access a five per cent deposit.”
“It is part of the Albanese Labor government's ongoing, deliberate work to implement the findings of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide—a royal commission this government called for while it was in opposition, because we understood that the scale of veteran suicide in this country demanded more than sympathy.”
“When Pope Leo warns against systems that reduce the person to an algorithm, this Labor government answers, 'Not here—not on our watch.' This letter speaks of the value of work not merely as economic activity but as an expression of human dignity. Catholic social teaching has always held that a fair day's work demands a fair day's pay.”
“Pope Leo also wrote that technology must serve human people, not shape them. Labor's reform, Australia's social media ban for under-16-year-olds, says the same thing in the language of legislation—that no algorithm should be permitted to interrupt a child's becoming.”
“But I want to highlight to this House that progress is not the same as completion, and the work does not end with the passage of this legislation. The health and wellbeing of our defence personnel, our veterans and their families must remain a standing priority of this parliament, not fleeting.”
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“I commend this bill to the House, and I call on every member of this parliament to treat the implementation of the royal commission's recommendations not as a tick-and-flick exercise but as a debt to be honoured to those we have lost and to the families we still have the duty to protect.”
“But I want to highlight to this House that progress is not the same as completion, and the work does not end with the passage of this legislation. The health and wellbeing of our defence personnel, our veterans and their families must remain a standing priority of this parliament, not fleeting. It must be reflected not only in the bills we pass but also in the community councils we establish, the conversations we have at RSL gatherings and the willingness of every member in this place to keep listening long after the cameras and formalities have gone. To the veterans and families of Barton who showed up to that first council meeting and to every defence family across this country still waiting to see whether reform translates into real changes in their lives, I say this: we support you and we have not finished.”
“They enable earlier, more effective information-sharing to support continuity of care, proactive outreach and smoother transition arrangements, including the earlier transfer of relevant information from Defence to DVA so that claims are processed faster, compensation reaches people sooner and individuals identified as being at increased risk receive tailored, timely support. This is what the royal commission asked of us: not piecemeal fixes, but a system-wide change that recognises that Defence and DVA must work as one continuous system of care, not two agencies operating in parallel with a gap between them where people can fall. The bill directly implements 15 of the royal commission's recommendations and supports further focus on the health and wellbeing of our Defence and veteran community. That is meaningful, measurable progress.”
“It consolidates the 'fit and proper person' requirements that underpin service, and it aligns substance-related separation processes with existing medical separation arrangements—recognising that these matters are often, at their root, health issues that deserve a health-informed response. Finally, the bill makes minor and consequential amendments to support the effective operation of the newly established Defence and Veterans Service Commission, ensuring that the broader architecture of reform coming out of the royal commission can function as intended. Together, these reforms support a far more integrated approach across Defence, DVA, the new veteran and family wellbeing agency, and the Defence and Veterans Service Commission.”
“It improves how information is shared and communicated between Defence and families and critically ensures that benefits and supports can continue for a former spouse or partner in the immediate aftermath of separation where family and domestic violence is present. This is about ensuring that no-one falls through the cracks at the exact moment they are most vulnerable. The bill also strengthens integrity and safety around who serves in our Australian Defence Force. It prohibits people convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for serious, violent or sexual offences from joining the ADF. It introduces mandatory discharge for members sentenced by an Australian court to imprisonment.”
“These are significant powers, and they are rightly matched by significant safeguards. Compliance with ministerial guidelines and an alignment with the Privacy Act framework ensures that this is not information-sharing for its own sake but information-sharing in the service of saving lives. The bill also establishes, for the first time, a dedicated legislative basis for defence health services, covering clinical governance, health monitoring, quality assurance and continuous improvement. This means the data we collect can be used lawfully and proportionately to improve the quality of care our defence personnel receive and strengthen suicide prevention efforts across the system. Importantly, this bill also turns its attention to defence families.”
“Interim measures have helped bridge that gap while this legislative reform has been developed, but interim measures are not where this work should end. This bill is that next necessary step. The bill implements 35 of the royal commission's recommendations, spanning health and wellbeing outcomes, suicide prevention, family support, transition arrangements and the modernisation of governance and accountability structures across Defence and DVA. At its core, the bill amends the Defence Act and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act to provide clear legislative authority for Defence, DVA and other Commonwealth agencies to collect, use and disclose information—including personal and sensitive information—for the purposes of research, analysis, evaluation, prevention and early intervention.”
“Behind every recommendation is very much a story that the royal commission had heard from a veteran, a serving member or a parent or partner who lost someone they loved. I want to acknowledge, as I know many in this place have, the extraordinary courage of those who came forward to share their experiences with the royal commission. They did so knowing it would be painful, and they did so because they wanted to spare other families the grief they have carried. We owe them more than gratitude; we owe them a follow-through. The royal commission found, in unambiguous terms, that the absence of effective information-sharing between Defence and DVA was a fundamental barrier to protecting the health and wellbeing of our Defence community.”
“It is part of the Albanese Labor government's ongoing, deliberate work to implement the findings of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide—a royal commission this government called for while it was in opposition, because we understood that the scale of veteran suicide in this country demanded more than sympathy. On 2 December 2024, the government handed down its formal response to the royal commission's findings. Of the 122 recommendations made, the government agreed or agreed in principle to 104 of them, with a further 17 noted for continued consideration. By the end of the year, 32 of those recommendations had already been implemented. By the end of this year, we expect close to two-thirds of all recommendations to be in place. These are not just numbers that I read into the Hansard for the record.”
“That might sound like a dry, technical phrase to some, but, for the families of those lost to suicide and for those currently serving who are silently struggling, it is anything but dry. It's about whether the right people in Defence and in the Department of Veterans' Affairs can see the full picture of a person's circumstances in time to intervene before a crisis becomes a tragedy. This bill creates the legislative authority for that information to move where it needs to move—between Defence and the DVA—underpinned by strong safeguards so that proactive support, early intervention and meaningful research and evaluation become possible rather than merely aspirational. This reform does not exist in isolation.”
“The people best placed to tell us what is and isn't working are the veterans, the serving members and their families living it every day. The council gives Barton's defence community a standing forum to raise concerns, to connect with the services and organisations that support them and to know that their member of parliament is not simply present for ceremonial occasions but genuinely engaged in their wellbeing all year round. It is in that spirit of listening, acting and taking seriously the responsibility we owe to those who serve that I rise to support the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026. At its core, this bill is about information sharing.”
“Both the member for Hunter, Daniel Repacholi, the Special Envoy for Men's Health, and Sergeant Kirsty Claymore, a local CSS, brought much insight, candour and warmth to the conversation, and their presence reminded everyone— A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 16:25 to 16:46 Sergeant Kirsti Claymore CSC brought insight, candour and warmth to the conversation that day. Their presence reminded everyone in that room that the issue really transcends electorate boundaries and political divisions. It is a national responsibility. I established the Barton Defence Community Council because I believe that good policy starts with listening. God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason.”
“We had people from LifeUnleashed by Integra Service Dogs Australia and Soldier On Australia. We had veterans who served decades ago sitting alongside families navigating the realities of defence life today. What struck me very importantly was not only the single stories that were brought up but the simple fact that people stayed back after the formal proceedings. For many of them, it was the first time in a long time that someone had organised an actual space and a form of engagement specifically to listen to them. I want to thank the special guests at the event. They generously gave a lot of their time and expertise.”
“I rise today to speak in support of the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026. Before I turn to the details of this bill, I want to take a moment to share something with the chamber that speaks directly to why this legislation matters. This is very much in the lived experience of the community I proudly represent in the southern part of Sydney. A few weeks ago I held the inaugural meeting of the Barton Defence Community Council. It's an initiative that I've started, and it was established in my electorate to bring together a lot of the veterans, ex-servicepeople, serving defence personnel and families in one room on a regular basis to be heard. We had representation from local RSL sub-branches and RSL LifeCare.”
“Pope Leo also wrote that technology must serve human people, not shape them. Labor's reform, Australia's social media ban for under-16-year-olds, says the same thing in the language of legislation—that no algorithm should be permitted to interrupt a child's becoming. I look forward to introducing the digital duty of care so that all of us are not left at the behest of the social media giants. This letter asks a fundamental question: what do we owe each other? Catholic social teaching answers this: everything that affirms the dignity of the person. Tonight, I am proud to say that this Albanese Labor government is answering that call in policy, in law and in real change for Australians that they will feel in their lives. The direction is justice, the direction is dignity, and the direction is peace and solidarity.”
“Care is not yielding; care is valued work, and we are building a system that treats it that way. He speaks of the social conditions for hope. For too many Australians, homeownership has become a source of despair, rather than aspiration. First home buyers can access a five per cent deposit. We are building new homes for first home buyers, not property investors. We are levelling a playing field that has been tilting against Australians for way too long. A fair playing field is not a gift; it's justice. He speaks of truth, justice and curbing the distortion of power. From 1 July, our price-gouging provisions come into place. When corporations extract excessive profit from people's grocery bills, that is not the market working; that is power being exercised against people, and governments that believe in the common good must act.”
“When Pope Leo warns against systems that reduce the person to an algorithm, this Labor government answers, 'Not here—not on our watch.' This letter speaks of the value of work not merely as economic activity but as an expression of human dignity. Catholic social teaching has always held that a fair day's work demands a fair day's pay. From 1 July, more than three million Australian workers will receive a pay rise, and every worker is getting another tax cut. That means families are breathing much more easily. That is the dignity of Labor, recognised in law. Pope Leo speaks of families and young people and of a world that must not abandon them. From today, paid parental leave extends to six months—and this accrues super—because we believe that, when a child enters this world, both parents deserve time to be present.”
“But he does not stop at warning; he calls on those with power—political, economic and technological—to exercise it in service of the common good. He calls on us to become, in his words, instruments of growth, justice and fraternity. I'm a proud Catholic and I'm a proud Labor member of parliament, and I do not think those things are in tension. Last year, the Albanese Labor government released Australia's National AI Plan, a responsible road map for governing AI in the public interest. It is grounded in the principles that Pope Leo articulates: transparency, human oversight, the protection of people's rights and the insistence that technology must serve humanity, not the reverse.”
“Pope Leo XIV released a document called 'Magnificent Humanity', a pastoral letter to the world on artificial intelligence and humanity. I want to speak about it tonight not simply because it addresses technology but because of what it actually reveals about the kind of society we're choosing to become. Pope Leo writes with urgency. He warns that we are living through a moment when 'the human person risks being reduced to data', to a machine output and to a commodity stripped of dignity, stripped of meaning and stripped of relationships that make life worth living. He warns of the dangers to truth, to democracy and to the institutions that sustain civic life when powerful technologies are left ungoverned and concentrated in too few hands.”
“That is why this council is crucial, because support must be local, inclusive, practical and shaped by veterans themselves.”
“Recently that council hosted a panel at Bexley Golf Club, with local ex-service people, serving personnel and families speaking very honestly about military life, transition, mental health and wellbeing. What we heard was very clear: too many current and former ADF personnel still face real barriers to seeking support. Stigma, defence culture and the fear of not being fit for service can stop people from asking for help. Veterans also spoke about the stress of DVA claims, the difficulty they have navigating the system and the need for clear local referral pathways. I thank the member for Hunter and our Special Envoy for Men's Health, Dan Repacholi, and Sergeant Kirsti Claymore for helping with a very safe space where those conversations can be had.”
“A lot of it chips away at self-esteem and tells boys they are never strong enough, big enough or even good enough. At Sydney Tech, we heard directly from students about what they are seeing online and hearing from friends. We need to listen to young men, take them very seriously and help them push back against these harmful messages. And the message was very simple: it is not weak to speak. One of the most important things I've done since being elected the new local member for Barton is establish the Barton Defence Community Council. It gives the local defence community in my electorate a direct line to their federal representative, and it makes sure the work I do here in Canberra is shaped by the lived experience of people in the St George and Canterbury area.”
“I rise to speak about my recent visit to Sydney Technical High School with the member for Hunter, Dan Repacholi, who is also our Special Envoy for Men's Health. We met with schoolteachers to talk about men's health and mental health and the pressures that young men are facing every day. We know men are less likely than women to seek help when they are struggling. Too often, boys are taught that being a man means staying in control, toughing it out and never looking weak. That pressure is not new, but it is being very much supercharged by what we see online. Today, a boy can go online looking for something as harmless as wrestling or fitness tips, and, before he knows it, he's being pulled into content about being jacked or looksmaxxing and chasing a narrow idea of what it means to be a man.”
“That is not an unreasonable expectation, and that is exactly what this legislation seeks to deliver. At its core, this package is about restoring that trust—trust between consumers and the airlines, trust between communities and airports and trust that the government is willing to step in when self-regulation has failed to deliver adequate outcomes. For too long, consumers have carried that burden. This legislation shifts that balance back towards fairness. It says to Australians, 'You deserve transparency, you deserve assistance, you deserve accountability and you deserve to know your rights when you're flying.'”
“I also want to acknowledge the many workers across the aviation industry: pilots, cabin crew, ground staff, baggage handlers, airport workers, customer service teams, security staff and the thousands of people employed across Sydney Airport and related industries near my electorate. These reforms are about building a stronger and more trusted aviation system for absolutely everyone—a system where passengers know their rights, complaints are handled fairly, and accountability and transparency are very much embedded into the sector. Australians understand that disruptions can and do happen; weather events happen, mechanical issues happen and global events happen. What people rightly expect is clear communication and fair treatment when things go wrong.”
“This government understands that a healthy aviation sector requires both competition and accountability, because competition benefits consumers, transparency benefits consumers and strong protections benefit consumers. These reforms are also particularly important in an increasingly uncertain global environment. Recent global conflicts and international instability have demonstrated how vulnerable aviation networks can be to disruption. Australians need confidence that, when disruptions occur, there are clear standards in place and proper consumer protections are available. This legislation provides that certainty. It modernises the framework, strengthens accountability and delivers long-overdue protections for passengers.”
“That may include accommodation, meals and transport where appropriate. Importantly, when flights are cancelled for reasons within the airline's control, consumers should receive refunds in the original form of payment, not be forced into an unwanted travel credit. That's commonsense reform; it puts the consumer first. These reforms build on substantial work already undertaken by the Albanese Labor government in aviation. In our first term, we delivered the Aviation white paper , we passed legislation to boost competition at Sydney Airport, we reinstated ACCC's airline monitoring after the former government planned to discontinue it and we released the draft Aviation Consumer Protections Charter.”
“At the same time, the framework will still capture Australia's largest airports, including Sydney Airport and Western Sydney International Airport, covering approximately 93 per cent of passenger movements nationwide. This is a sensible and proportionate approach. We also know that there has been discussion around financial compensation for delays and cancellations, and the government has carefully considered international models. What we have seen overseas is that mandatory compensation schemes can often result in an increase in ticket prices without necessarily improving airline performance. This government's focus is on practical support and better outcomes for passengers. Under these reforms, the airlines will be expected to cover reasonable, consequential costs when disruptions occur.”
“There will be ongoing engagement with airlines and airports to ensure standards are operationally feasible and sustainable, and the framework strikes an appropriate balance. It lifts standards while recognising the realities of operating within a very complex aviation environment. Importantly, the legislation also provides flexibility for exemptions where appropriate. The aviation industry is not all the same. The small regional airport is very different from a major international gateway. That is why this government intends to exempt airports with fewer than one million passengers per year from the framework. This ensures smaller regional and council owned airports are not unfairly burdened.”
“The Preparing for take-off study found that passengers with disabilities, medical conditions or injuries consistently experience poorer outcomes when travelling. Around one in four travellers surveyed identified as having a disability, injury or medical condition. Alarmingly, two in five did not know how to access assistance services available to them. That is unacceptable in a modern aviation system. Every Australian deserves to travel with dignity, and these reforms will help ensure airlines and airports provide fair and reasonable treatment to passengers with accessibility challenges or needs. That matters enormously. Aviation should be able to connect people, not exclude them. The government has been very clear from the outset that this framework will be designed in consultation with industry.”
“I know many of my fellow parliamentarians in this chamber understand that this is an important issue regarding flight paths. Residents living near the Sydney Airport understand both the economic importance of aviation and the impact aircraft noise can have on their daily life. Communities deserve confidence that noise complaints are managed transparently and independently. The Aircraft Noise Ombudsperson will review how aircraft noise complaints are handled by Airservices Australia and the Department of Defence, and this reform strengthens trust and transparency and ensures communities are not simply ignored. It reinforces that government can support both aviation growth and community amenity at the same time. These reforms also recognise that accessibility must be the centre of aviation consumer protection.”
“The Aviation Consumer Ombudsperson will provide passengers with an independent avenue to resolve disputes fairly and transparently and will help restore confidence in the complaints process and ensure consumers are very much heard. Importantly, it will sit outside government as an independent not-for-profit body, and that independence matters. Australians need confidence that complaints will be assessed fairly and objectively. The bill package also establishes the Aircraft Noise Ombudsperson, and this is particularly important for communities living near major flight paths and airports. Again, this is highly relevant to the communities in and around my electorate of Barton, because I'm also the Chair of the Sydney Airport Community Forum.”
“That means misleading conduct and anticompetitive behaviour will still be scrutinised by the ACCC, but this new framework recognises that aviation also requires a dedicated and specialised consumer protection regime and the aviation sector has unique operational challenges. It requires tailored oversight, and these reforms deliver exactly that. Another major reform contained within this package is the establishment of the Aviation Consumer Ombudsperson. This is an Australian-first independent external dispute resolution mechanism specifically designed for aviation complaints. For many travellers today, making a complaint feels like shouting into a void. People are bounced through departments, receive automatic responses or simply give up altogether, and I don't think that's good enough.”
“The legislation will establish the Aviation Consumer Protection Authority, or the ACPA, and the role of ACPA will be to monitor compliance, enforce standards and ensure airlines and airports are meeting their obligations under this charter. This is critical because standards without enforcement are meaningless. The ACPA will provide proper oversight and ensure the framework has teeth. Importantly, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will continue its existing role in enforcing Australian consumer law and monitoring competition issues within the aviation sector.”
“More than half of the flying public experienced a disruption within a 12-month period, around one-third were satisfied with how it was handled, 82 per cent of passengers said that they received no support during disruptions, 81 per cent said they were not informed of their rights, and about 17 per cent were satisfied with the complaints process overall. Those figures are quite staggering, and they demonstrate why these reforms are very necessary. Passengers should not need to become experts in aviation law simply to understand what support they're entitled to. Consumers deserve clarity and transparency. Consumers deserve accountability, and that is precisely what these reforms will deliver.”
“Importantly, it will clarify what obligations airlines have when flights are delayed, cancelled or disrupted. And, for the first time in Australia, there will be a nationally consistent framework outlining the minimum standards of treatment that passengers should receive, and that includes standards across communication, assistance, accessibility and support during disruptions. This is major reform. It's one driven by evidence. The government's P reparing for take-off study revealed what many Australians already knew through lived experience.”
“Anyone who has travelled in recent years knows that frustration Australians have experienced—hours of sitting in the terminals, last-minute cancellations, confusing communication, travel credits instead of refunds, and passengers left to navigate really complicated systems with little clarity about their rights. These reforms recognise that consumers deserve certainty and dignity when things go wrong. The Aviation Consumer Protection Bill establishes the legal foundations for a new consumer protection framework that will fundamentally improve the passenger experience here in Australia. At the core of these reforms is the creation of the Aviation Consumer Protections Charter. This charter will set out clear minimum standards that consumers can expect from airlines and airports.”
“I've had the privilege to meet a number of those workers through doorknocking and meet wonderful United Workers Union members as well at Sydney airport. Many families travel regularly to visit their loved ones overseas, and my community is a proudly multicultural community. For many people in Barton, flying is not simply about the holidays, maintaining family ties, weddings, caring for ageing parents who might be living overseas, studying, working and conducting business. When flights are disrupted, it has a real emotional and financial consequence to the people in my community.”
“But Australians deserve better, and the Albanese Labor government is delivering a modern aviation system that puts passengers back in the centre of this conversation—a system that is fairer, a system that is much more transparent and a system that improves accountability across the aviation industry and, more importantly, a system that recognises that air travel is not a luxury for many Australians. It's an essential part of everyday life. In my electorate of Barton, the issue matters deeply because Barton is located very close to Sydney airport, which is one of the busiest aviation hubs in this country, and many residents in Barton work directly in aviation, tourism, hospitality, freight, logistics and airport services.”
“I rise in support of the Aviation Consumer Protection Bill 2026 and the other bills itemised. These bills together represent the most significant reform to aviation consumer rights here in this country in more than a decade. For too long, Australian travellers have felt powerless when flights are being delayed, cancelled or disrupted. For too long, people have been left stranded at airports, unable to get clear information, unable to access assistance and unable to resolve complaints in a fair and timely way. For too long, this system has effectively relied on airlines policing themselves.”
“My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering for local governments across Australia, and what approaches would leave local government worse off?”
“It is for the Fair Work Commission, which needs these tools to manage its workload and deliver timely justice, it's for the workers, who need the commission to hear their cases on merit without unnecessary delay, it is for the truckies, who deserve a fair go when they challenge an unfair contract, and it is for the principle that government procurement, the spending of public money, should, where appropriate, promote the standards we want to set across the economy.”
“It shapes the conditions under which millions of Australians spend a third of their waking lives. It determines whether work is secure or precarious, fairly rewarded or exploited, safe or dangerous. This bill is definitely not a headline-grabbing piece of legislation, but it is exactly the kind of careful, evidence based, consultatively developed reform that makes a system that works better and that ensures the institutions and mechanisms we rely on are fit for purpose. I think of workers I represented—electricians and nurses. I think of hospitality and hotel employers I advised and supported who wanted to do the right thing and needed the system to help them do it. I think this bill is for all of them.”
“So this bill will allow a new road transport industry high-income threshold to be developed in consultation, one that actually reflects the economic realities of this industry. I think of contractors, small operators, who have taken on work under contracts that gave them very little protection and found themselves locked in arrangements that were generally unfair but with no practical avenue to challenge them. This reform changes that. It says to those contractors that they deserve access to the same quick and accessible process that others can use to challenge an unfair contract. When I left practice and came to this place, I brought with me a conviction that the workplace relations system is one of the most significant things a government manages.”
“We know truckies occupy a unique position in our economy and in our national life. They are the people who move our goods, stock our shelves and keep our supply chains running. They are often owner-operators or small contractors. They are their own boss in name but are often subject to commercial pressures that leave them with little real bargaining power. The cost structures they face are genuinely different from other industries'. With fuel, maintenance and insurance compliance, the out-of-pocket expenses of running a truck are significant and ongoing. The existing high-income threshold that determines access to the Fair Work Commission's unfair contract jurisdiction was designed for employees, not for contractors who may have a turnover that looks substantial on paper but a take-home income that tells a very different story.”
“Minor but meaningful amendments in this bill clarifying travel allowances for NCIF members, updating ministerial membership to reflect mechanism-of-government changes and adding the Minister for Skills and Training as a permanent member reflect the genuine work the forum is doing and the importance that government places on it. The skills component of the forum's Blueprint for the future is not incidental; it is very much central. A construction industry that invests in training, apprenticeships and the development of its workforce is one that can be genuinely productive and genuinely safe. Finally, I just want to speak to the road transport provisions because I think they are something very much overlooked in the broader discussion of this bill, and they should not be.”
“The bill also contains provisions supporting the National Construction Industry Forum and clarifying aspects of the CFMEU administration's reporting obligations. The construction industry has had troubled periods, and I think it's fair to say that is something that we can agree on. But the tripartite National Construction Industry Forum, bringing together governments, employers and unions, represents a serious attempt to chart a different course, one that is based on lawful behaviour, genuine cooperation and a shared commitment to a construction industry that is productive, safe and fair.”
“The previous government's prohibition on the Commonwealth considering enterprise agreements in procurement decisions was a peculiar difference, a legislative restraint that prevented the Australian government from using its own purchasing power to support the very outcomes it said it valued. This bill removes that prohibition. It does not mandate that the Commonwealth must preference enterprise agreement employers; it simply removes the legal barrier to doing so where appropriate. The Secure Australian Jobs Code will develop the policy framework for how and when such preferencing occurs, and that is the right sequencing: remove the legal obstacle now and develop the policy settings carefully.”
“When I worked at the AHA, we helped employers, particularly small businesses, use enterprise agreements to structure their workforce in ways that made business sense while providing workers with above-award conditions and attracting skilled employees. I must highlight that I heard the contributions from the member for Wentworth, and I refute some of those bold assertions by the member for Wentworth. I've had really good experiences of the use of EBAs, particularly for small businesses. Enterprise agreements work because they require genuine engagement between employers and employees. They are transparent, they are registered, they are enforceable and they create a shared stake in the success of that enterprise.”
“The bill also removes a Howard-era prohibition on the Commonwealth considering whether to preference employers with enterprise agreements when making funding and procurement decisions, and I want to spend a moment on this because I think it goes to something fundamental about what enterprise agreements are and what they represent. In my experience, I've been able to see both sides of this table. A genuine enterprise agreement, bargained in good faith, is one of the most effective mechanisms we have for delivering fair wages, secure jobs and workplace flexibility simultaneously. When I worked at the ETU, we bargained enterprise agreements that gave electricians certainty about their rosters, their allowances and other employment conditions.”