Labor are playing politics with workers
They are holding up action on PTSD for emergency responders, protecting victims of domestic violence and tradies just so they can try to pass their controversial workplace relations reforms.
Labor are playing politics with workers
They are holding up action on PTSD for emergency responders, protecting victims of domestic violence and tradies just so they can try to pass their controversial workplace relations reforms.
Labor are playing politics with workers
They are holding up action on PTSD for emergency responders, protecting victims of domestic violence and tradies just so they can try to pass their controversial workplace relations reforms.
What's the skinny?
Minister Burke is trying to pass a controversial set of workplace relations laws, which he's named the ‘Closing Loopholes’ bill.
He's purposely bundled common sense changes in with his more controversional ideas to pressure us to pass the whole lot.
The ‘Closing Loopholes’ bill has been referred to an Inquiry until February, and as the bill currently stands, many of these laws wouldn’t come into effect until July 2024.
The net result is that a number of much needed, non controversial laws are being held up because the Minister has decided to play political games.
We believe that we should split the common sense changes out from the rest of the bill as amendments. If that happens, we could easily pass them next time Parliament sits.
What do we need to split from the Minister's bill?
#1 PTSD support our first responders
Emergency services would no longer have to prove they have PTSD to get help
The first amendment will mean that federal police, paramedics and firefighters wouldn’t have to prove they have PTSD from their work to get help.
These are people who put their lives on the line for us every day – it’s not all we can do it’s the least we can do.
#2 Protect victims of domestic violence
Stop them from being sacked or disriminated against
The second amendment would protect victims of family and domestic violence:
- It stops victims of Domestic Violence from being sacked.
- Protects victims of Domestic Violence from being discriminated in the workplace.
#3 Protect workers in small businesses
Protect redundancy payments for small business employees
The third:
- Allows redundancy payments for workers of small businesses that have gone out of business
- It protects redundancy payments for workers who might be working for larger businesses – that have become technically a small business due to insolvency.
#4 Protect our young tradies
By amending the asbestos safety act to regulate Silica
The fourth amendment – the crossbench wants to split out of this bill – is about the regulation of SILICA (dust from things like stone bench tops) into the asbestos safety act – there is currently no national regulation on silica and that is a massive worry!
It’s estimated that nearly half a million young tradies are exposed to silica dust – with thousands already diagnosed with silicosis. Like Asbestosis - Silicosis is incurable.
Can you help us run ads?
The only way that the Minister will listen is if we put public pressure on him. Jacqui is making as much noise as she can in the media, but we need to do more to build awareness around this issue. Can you chip in to help us run ads?
Watch Jacqui's speech
Can we ask one more thing?
Call the Minister's electorate office
Politely ask the person who picks up the phone to pass onto the Minister that you would like him to consider splitting four amendments out of the 'closing the loopholes' bill so that they can pass as soon as possible in Parliament.
Those amendments are:
- PTSD for front line workers
Schedule 3 – amendments to the SAFETY, REHABILITATION & COMPENSATION ACT 1988 - Removing discrimination for domestic violence victims
Part 8 – Strengthening Protections against discrimination - Small business
Schedule 2 - Small business redundancy exemption -
Adding Silica to the Asbestos Safety Act
Schedule 2 – Amendment of the Asbestos Safety & Eradication Agency Act 2013