7th Dec 2023, 4:42 PM – Representatives Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023 - Consideration of Senate Message - Workplace delegates

The majority voted against amendments introduced by Wentworth MP Allegra Spender (Independent), which means they failed.

What do these amendments do?

Ms Spender explained that:

The specific amendments I am making are pretty simple. The Senate amendments have the effect of shifting most parts of the Fair Work bill into a separate bill which will be considered next year. In addition to the parts being shifted out, I would like to add division 1 of part 7. This division deals with workplace delegates, providing them with additional protections and rights, and imposes a requirement on businesses to provide delegates with paid time off for training. The bill provides a carve-out for small businesses—defined as those with fewer than 15 employees—but otherwise provides no guardrails on the number of delegates or how much paid time off they can receive.

Amendment text

(1) Senate amendment (1), subparagraph (b)(vi), omit the subparagraph, substitute:

(vi) Part 7 (workplace delegates' rights);

(2) Senate amendment (3) (proposed new table item 8 in subclause 2(1) of the Bill), omit the table item.

(3) Senate amendment (9) (proposed new Division 4 of Part 15 of the Fair Work Act 2009), omit the Division.