Ms BURNET question to MINISTER for SMALL BUSINESS and CONSUMER AFFAIRS, Ms OGILVIE
Workers in disability and community services, aged care, contract planning and security play an essential role in our society. Despite this, staff in these industries have fewer rights and worse conditions than those in other sectors such as the public service.
One key area affecting workers in these industries relates to long service leave. When a contractor or provider changes, or when they move jobs within their industry, they lose all their long service leave credits. It is deeply unfair. Other Australian jurisdictions have already moved to address this by creating portable long service leave schemes for these industries.
Will you listen to the calls of HACSU, the United Workers Union and the Australian Services Union and commit to creating a Tasmanian portable long service leave scheme for staff in disability and community services, aged care, cleaning and security?
Madam SPEAKER – I call the Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs. Although, is it a workplace relations question, perhaps?
ANSWER
It does cross a few boundaries. Madam Speaker, I speak very generally and and briefly to the importance of all our workforce, no matter who they work for, whether it is a small or big business, government or the social sector. As you would know in this Chamber, I spend a lot of time working with all of those people. As small business minister, everybody who works within small businesses deserves to be treated with the utmost respect, and of course that goes from customer services right through to their pay, salaries and superannuation, and those sorts of issues.
I understand that the issue of portable long service leave and other issues are in the public realm. Some of that sits with other ministers. With your agreement, I would like to take that on notice so we can provide you with a fuller response. I should say also that small business is the absolute engine room of the Tasmanian economy. It is really important we back them in. These are families.
I saw a lovely ad the other day where a small business was saying – I think it was at a national level – when you buy from us, you are providing the child with the new dance outfit, the money for the school books and school shoes, and very important stuff about the Tasmanian community.
Dr Woodruff – What does this have to do with portable long service leave?
Ms OGILVIE – I think we all like to work like that. From my perspective, I am always happy to take on good ideas.
Madam SPEAKER – We might consider if members are taking questions on notice that that might be the end of the the answer from now on. That is something we might discuss in order to move through quickly.
