Parliament: Speeches on Bills

Work Health and Safety (Representative Assistance) Amendment Bill

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: I take the floor briefly to indicate the Dignity Party’s support for this bill. I would like to acknowledge the various submissions and lobbying that I have received on this bill from the likes of the Law Society, the Master Builders Association and one individual lobbyist. However, despite the concerns that have been raised, I can indicate that the Dignity Party will be supporting this bill today.

We do not believe this is any sort of Trojan horse. Of course, it is important to remember the CFMEU will continue to be subject to federal laws and fines as they were before. Given that we are simply reinstating a feature that was taken out of the bill in 2012, and there is no appetite to reinstate it, we will be supporting the bill.