TRANSCRIPT - MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS FLETCHER - Labor’s Extended Sittings, Industrial Relations, Neil Prakash, Former Justice Bell’s Report

PAUL FLETCHER MP

Shadow Minister for Science and the Arts

Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy

Manager of Opposition Business in the House

TRANSCRIPT

PRESS CONFERENCE – LINDFIELD, SYDNEY

26 NOVEMBER 2022

E&OE

Subject/s: Labor’s Extended Sittings, Industrial Relations, Neil Prakash, Former Justice Bell’s Report

PAUL FLETCHER: I want to make some comments about the Albanese Labor governments extraordinary decision too require the House of Representatives to meet next Saturday to be able to pass their radical and extreme industrial relations legislation. It really does speak volumes for the priorities of this government that the reason they want to force the house to sit on a Saturday, the first time this has happened for nearly 20 years is so they can dance to the tune of their union masters and pass this extreme industrial relations bill. This extreme bill would bring unions into the premises and businesses of small businesses all around the country. It gives unions the powers to veto agreements that have been reached between an employer and the majority of its employees. It means that small businesses located in a shopping centre together with a big business such as Coles or Woolworths can be dragged into so-called multi-employer bargaining and have to take on terms and conditions that have been struck with reference to the needs of a much larger and different business, this is dramatically increasing the power of the union bosses. Even though less than 10% of private sector employees around Australia are members of unions Labor is determined to increase the power of the Union bosses. This will be a Saturday sucker punch for small businesses all around Australia. This will be a sad and shameful Saturday for small businesses which face being brought under the Union heel and it really does speak volumes for the priorities of the Albanese Labor Government that the reason they want to bring the Parliament back on a Saturday, the first time this has happened for nearly 20 years is not to deal with rising cost of living pressures. The fact that electricity prices are going to go up 56% over the next two years according to Labor's own Budget. Gas prices are going to go up 44% over the next two years according Labor’s own Budget. Interest rates are rising. But Labor doesn't have a plan to deal with that. Which is causing them to bring the Parliament back on the Saturday. They're bringing the Parliament back on a Saturday to give more power to the Union bosses. This will be a Saturday sucker punch for small businesses all around Australia. 

QUESTION: It's clear some elements of this IR bill do have widespread support, would the Coalition support some of those less contentious elements? 

FLETCHER: We've been very clear that Labor’s radical industrial relations bill is about increasing the power of the unions. It abolishes the Registered Organisations Commission. It abolishes the Australian Building Construction Commission. This is bad news. It's bad news for small business. It's bad news for businesses of all kinds. It's bad news for employers, bad news for employees. Bad news for the nation. We are opposed to Labor’s industrial relations bill. 

QUESTION: Wasn't the practise of trying to rush things through Parliament used repeatedly by the Coalition using things like extended sittings, so I guess. Why the criticism for Labor trying to do the same? 

FLETCHER: Let's be clear what we've seen with ready with Labor’s radical, extreme, industrial relations bill, it was introduced on the 27th of October. Just four parliamentary sitting days later it was forced through the House of Representatives, Labor used their numbers to gag debate and force it through, this is 249 pages of very detailed changes; radical changes. There's been widespread criticism of the shocking process here, and what Labor is doing is dancing to the tunes of its union masters. They're trashing normal parliamentary processes. They forced through a bill in four days. They're now having the Parliament forced to sit on the Saturday and it's all about making the Union bosses more powerful. Very bad news for small businesses and very bad news for our economy. 

QUESTION: Can I ask you on Neil Prakash, an Australian man went to Syria, to become an ISIS fighter. So news this morning that he would be brought back to Australia. Should he be back here? Well, should he be brought back here to be tried for his crimes. 

FLETCHER: Well, the Coalition believes that it is appropriate that he be extradited back to Australia and he should face the judicial process here, of course he should, and he needs to be tried for the crimes that he's alleged to have committed, which of course are very serious crimes. 

QUESTION: And just on Scott Morrison and the report that was handed down yesterday. Do you think it was right or appropriate for Scott Morrison not to meet with Virginia Bell in person to provide information for this. 

FLETCHER: Look, I'm not going to comment on the processes, what I would say is that we've had the Solicitor General's opinion we've had now the report from former High Court Justice Bell, both of which have found there was no illegality. There, was no breach of the Constitution. Former Justice Bell’s report makes some sensible recommendations about the processes to publish the appointment of Ministers to portfolios and the Coalition thinks those are sensible. We'll obviously look at the legislation when it's brought forward, but we'd certainly be minded to support that and we certainly think that the Albanese government should be getting one with dealing with the real problems facing Australia, including the cost of living crisis rather than continuing to engage in political payback. 

QUESTION: And just lastly. Just in light of that, would you expect or would it be appropriate for Scott Morrison to face something like a parliamentary censure for his actions. 

FLETCHER: The report from Former Justice Bell makes sensible recommendations, including how to deal with requiring the publication of the appointment of ministers. The Coalition would likely support that we look at the legislation in due course. The report and the previous Solicitor General’s opinion did not find any evidence of a breach of the Constitution, or of illegality. Some sensible recommendations. The Labor government should be moving on dealing with the real problems facing Australians, including a cost of living crisis rather than engaging in political payback. And certainly a censure motion would simply be about political payback rather than about the sensible next steps on this issue and there are much higher priorities. Thank you very much.  

Further information: Jack Abadee 0403 440 099