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AGAINST – Bills — Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Protecting Worker Entitlements) Bill 2023; Second Reading

Sue Lines

We are now dealing with opposition amendments on sheets 1940 to 1946. I understand Senator Askew will seek leave to put some different views from senators at the end. No? Okay, I think other senators might seek leave. Then we might put that particular amendment by itself, because we need to check that it doesn't alter the overall vote. So the question is that these amendments be agreed to.

O pposition's circulated amendments—

SHEET 1940

1) Page 3 (after line 8), after clause 3, insert:

4 Review of operation of unpaid parental leave amendments

(1) The Minister must cause a review to be conducted of the operation of the amendments made by Schedule 2 to this Act.

(2) Without limiting the matters that may be considered when conducting the review, the review must:

(a) consider whether the operation of the amendments made by Schedule 2 is appropriate and effective; and

(b) identify any unintended consequences of the amendments made by Schedule 2; and

(c) consider whether amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009, or any other legislation, are necessary to:

(i) improve the operation of the amendments made by Schedule 2; or

(ii) rectify any unintended consequences identified under paragraph (b).

(3) The review must start as soon as practicable after the end of the period of 6 months after the commencement of Schedule 2.

(4) The persons who conduct the review must give the Minister a written report of the review within 3 months of the commencement of the review.

(5) The Minister must cause a copy of the report of the review to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the Minister receives the report.

_____

SHEET 1941

(1) Schedule 2, item 49, page 11 (lines 11 to 13), omit the item, substitute:

49 Subsection 74(3C)

Repeal the subsection, substitute:

(3C) If any of the leave covered by the notice is to be taken under section 72A, the notice must specify:

(a) the total number of days (flexible days) of flexible unpaid parental leave that the employee intends to take in relation to the child; and

(b) the intended start and end dates of the leave, or each period of the leave.

(2) Schedule 2, item 51, page 11 (lines 18 and 19), omit the item, substitute:

51 Subsection 74(4) (heading)

Omit "72", substitute "72A".

(3) Schedule 2, items 53 to 56, page 11 (line 23) to page 12 (line 8), omit the items, substitute:

53 Subsection 74(4)

Omit "72", substitute "72A".

54 At the end of subsection 74(4)

Add:

Note: Whether or not it is practicable for the employee to advise the employer of any changes to the intended start and end dates of the leave will depend on the employee's personal and family circumstances. For example, it may not be practicable for the employee to advise the employer of any changes to the intended start and end dates of the leave where the employee experiences a health issue, a pregnancy complication or an unexpected change in the employee's child care arrangements.

55 Subsections 74(4A) to (4C)

Repeal the subsections.

(4) Schedule 8, item 1, page 32 (line 7), omit "or (4B)".

_____

SHEET 1942

(1) Schedule 3, item 2, page 19 (after line 19), at the end of Division 10A, add:

116F Pecuniary penalty orders

A court must not make a pecuniary penalty order against an employer for a contravention of a civil penalty provision that relates to a contravention of this Division if the conduct constituting the contravention was in accordance with binding advice given by or on behalf of the Commissioner of Taxation.

(2) Schedule 3, Part 1, page 19 (after line 19), at the end of the Part, add:

2A Subsection 546(1) (before the note)

Insert:

Note 1: Pecuniary penalty orders cannot be made in relation to certain conduct that contravenes Division 10A of Part 2-2 (see section 116F).

2B Subsection 546(1) (note)

Omit "Note:", substitute "Note 2:".

_____

SHEET 1943

(1) Schedule 3, Part 2, page 20 (after line 21), at the end of the Part, add:

5 After subsection 739(2)

Insert:

(2A) The FWC must not deal with a dispute to the extent that the dispute is about the operation of a Commonwealth Act or instrument relating to superannuation.

_____

SHEET 1944

(1) Schedule 5, page 22 (after line 25), at the end of the Schedule, add:

4 At the end of section 324

Add:

(4) If the deductions are for amounts as varied from time to time, any variation that increases the amount of one or more of the deductions must be authorised in writing by the employee.

_____

SHEET 1945

(1) Schedule 6, item 9, page 26 (line 28), omit "and bonuses", substitute ", bonuses and casual loading but excluding any other monetary allowance, loading or other separately identifiable amount".

(2) Schedule 6, item 13, page 27 (line 26), omit "and bonuses", substitute ", bonuses and casual loading but excluding any other monetary allowance, loading or other separately identifiable amount".

_____

SHEET 1946

(1) Schedule 3, Part 1, page 19 (after line 19), at the end of the Part, add:

Taxation Administration Act 1953

2C Subsection 255-5(2) in Schedule 1

Omit "The Commissioner", substitute "Subject to section 255-6, the Commissioner".

2D At the end of Subdivision 255-A in Schedule 1

Add:

255-6 Commencing certain proceedings relating to superannuation guarantee charge

Proceedings cannot be commenced under subsection 255-5(2) to recover an amount of a *tax-related liability of yours that is superannuation guarantee charge payable under the Superannuation Guarantee (__Administration) Act 1992 if:

(a) a person has applied for an order under Division 2 of Part 4-1 of the Fair Work Act 2009 in relation to a contravention, or alleged contravention, by you of a civil remedy provision within the meaning of that Act that relates to a contravention of Division 10A of Part 2-2 of that Act; and

(b) your *superannuation guarantee shortfall in respect of which the superannuation guarantee charge is imposed includes an *individual superannuation guarantee shortfall for an employee to whom the contravention, or alleged contravention, wholly or partly relates; and

(c) the proceedings for the order have not been finally disposed of or discontinued.

Summary

Date and time: 3:44 PM on 2023-06-22
Senator Pocock's vote: No
Total number of "aye" votes: 28
Total number of "no" votes: 33
Total number of abstentions: 15
Related bill: Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Protecting Worker Entitlements) Bill 2023

Adapted from information made available by theyvoteforyou.org.au