Canberra wrong on how AWAs are used in Western Australia

11/3/04
Consumer and Employment Protection Minister John Kobelke has rejected claims by the Federal Workplace Relations Minister over the success of Australian Workplace Agreements in Western Australia.
Mr Kobelke said Kevin Andrews was ignoring the facts, when he claimed that WA employees on federally-registered AWAs were better off than workers on collective agreements.
"Fewer than one in 20 employees in this State are on AWAs and a majority of those agreements have been used by employers to undermine community standards," the Minister said.
"While AWAs, used in WA's resources sector, have by and large protected employees' entitlements, in the labour intensive services sector (such as hospitality, for example), employers are being allowed to erode workers' pay and conditions."
Employees who volunteer for weekend work or overtime are deemed, under many AWAs, not to be entitled to the award-based additional payment rates for working those hours.
Mr Kobelke said those employers were being assisted by the Federal Government's Office of the Employment Advocate, which had failed to apply the 'no disadvantage test' in accordance with a decision of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.
"It is ironic the Howard Government preaches the importance of upholding the law, while its own agency applies the 'no disadvantage test', contrary to its own legislation and decisions of the relevant tribunal," he said.

Minister's office: 9222 9211