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senate vote 2023-08-07#7
Edited by
mackay staff
on
2023-12-29 09:59:26
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Title
Bills — Jobs and Skills Australia Amendment Bill 2023; in Committee- Jobs and Skills Australia Amendment Bill 2023 - in Committee - Make up of JSA advisory board
Description
<p class="speaker">Mehreen Faruqi</p><p>FARUQI () (): I move Greens amendment (1) on sheet 2032:</p>-
- The majority voted against [amendments](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2023-08-07.87.1) introduced by WA Senator [Michaelia Cash](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/michaelia_cash) (Liberal), which means they failed.
- ### What did these amendments do?
- Senator Cash [explained that](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2023-08-07.87.1):
- > *These amendments will remove clause 16B(1)(c) of the bill as passed on the third reading in the House, which removes the mandate for four employer organisation representatives on the ministerial advisory board of Jobs and Skills Australia. In its place, however, our amendment creates new subsections mandating a representative for small business and two members representing the interests of rural, remote and regional Australia. The amendment will also add section 16B(2), which ensures that each state and the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory must be geographically represented within the distribution of the board members chosen under section 16B(1).*
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- > *The amendments amend subsection (1) of section 29A of the bill to ensure that the review into the operation of the act commences before the end of the period of 12 months, instead of the two-year period currently scheduled in the bill.*
- ### Amendment text
- > *(1) Schedule 1, item 31, page 9 (line 28), omit paragraph 16B(1)(c).*
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- > *(2) Schedule 1, item 31, page 9 (after line 29), after paragraph 16B(1)(d), insert:*
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- >> *(da) 1 member representing small business;*
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- >> *(db) 2 members representing regional, rural and remote Australia;*
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- > *(3) Schedule 1, item 31, page 9 (after line 32), after subsection 16B(2), insert:*
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- >> *(2A) In appointing the members of the Ministerial Advisory Board, the Minister must ensure that the members include a representative from each State, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.*
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- > *(4) Schedule 1, item 37, page 18 (line 4), omit "2 years", substitute "12 months".*
<p class="italic">(1) Schedule 1, item 13, page 5 (line 9), at the end of paragraph 9(1)(cc), add ", and support, where appropriate, the evaluation of outcomes of relevant programs and the measurement of targets for these cohorts".</p><p>This amendment expands the functions of the JSA so that it not only undertakes studies on opportunities to improve employment, VET and higher education outcomes for a cohort of individuals that have historically experienced labour market disadvantages and exclusion but also has a role in supporting the evaluation of outcomes of relevant programs and the measurement of targets of these cohorts, because that's what's really important. We need to measure how things are progressing. This will give JSA a greater potential to genuinely improve outcomes for women, for over-55s, for people with disability, for young people, for unpaid carers, for First Nations people and for people of colour. I understand that the government will be supporting this amendment, and I thank Minister O'Connor's office for the positive working relationship we've had to date.</p> <p class="speaker">Anthony Chisholm</p><p>The government has consulted broadly on the permanent model of Jobs and Skills Australia to ensure that this bill supports an ideal range of ongoing functions and products that it will deliver. Senator Faruqi, on behalf of the Greens, has moved an amendment to the functions of Jobs and Skills Australia. The amendment proposes to add, at schedule 1, item 13, page 5, at the end of paragraph, 'and support, where appropriate, the evaluation of outcomes of relevant programs and the measurement of targets for these cohorts'. This would be through the provision of evidence, data and analysis. The government will be supporting this amendment. I want to thank Senators Faruqi and Pocock for their ongoing discussions with the minister, including about Jobs and Skills Australia's role in policy evaluation. The amendment clarifies that JSA may assist, where appropriate, with program evaluations, including government led initiatives that aim to increase or encourage the involvement of particular cohorts in employment, VET or higher education and targets for involvement associated with these programs.</p><p>Question agreed to.</p> <p class="speaker">Michaelia Cash</p><p>by leave—I move opposition amendments (1) to (4) on sheet 1993 together:</p><p class="italic">(1) Schedule 1, item 31, page 9 (line 28), omit paragraph 16B(1)(c).</p><p class="italic">(2) Schedule 1, item 31, page 9 (after line 29), after paragraph 16B(1)(d), insert:</p><p class="italic">(da) 1 member representing small business;</p><p class="italic">(db) 2 members representing regional, rural and remote Australia;</p><p class="italic">(3) Schedule 1, item 31, page 9 (after line 32), after subsection 16B(2), insert:</p><p class="italic">(2A) In appointing the members of the Ministerial Advisory Board, the Minister must ensure that the members include a representative from each State, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.</p><p class="italic">(4) Schedule 1, item 37, page 18 (line 4), omit "2 years", substitute "12 months".</p><p>These amendments will remove clause 16B(1)(c) of the bill as passed on the third reading in the House, which removes the mandate for four employer organisation representatives on the ministerial advisory board of Jobs and Skills Australia. In its place, however, our amendment creates new subsections mandating a representative for small business and two members representing the interests of rural, remote and regional Australia. The amendment will also add section 16B(2), which ensures that each state and the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory must be geographically represented within the distribution of the board members chosen under section 16B(1).</p><p>The amendments amend subsection (1) of section 29A of the bill to ensure that the review into the operation of the act commences before the end of the period of 12 months, instead of the two-year period currently scheduled in the bill. The opposition believes that small businesses are more able than, say, employee organisations to advise on skills shortages across the country, given they are at the front line of contemporary changes to workforce and labour needs. Similarly, regional Australia is disproportionately affected by the skills and labour force shortages. It is critical to ensure that representatives on the board can provide direct advice to the minister and the commissioner to help resolve these critical issues as quickly as possible.</p><p>Our amendments also add, as I said, a new section 16B(2), which ensures that each state and the ACT and the NT must be geographically represented within the distribution of the board members chosen under section 16B(1). Skill shortages, as we know, affect all states and territories. As such, each should have that geographical representation to ensure that they can advise on the unique challenges in differing areas of our incredibly large country. Our amendments also amend subsection (1) of 29A of the bill to ensure that the review into the operation of this act commences before the end of the period of 12 months. The current legislation could allow the minister to push the review out beyond the next election. We say that this is not appropriate, considering that this bill is a key election commitment of the government, and the public should be able to have a chance to scrutinise the review of this promise. I commend the amendments to the chamber.</p> <p class="speaker">Anthony Chisholm</p><p>HOLM (—) (): The opposition have proposed the same amendments they moved in the other place. We consider them untenable. They would remove unions from the ministerial advisory board, thus undermining the tripartite commitment of Jobs and Skill Australia. The opposition amendments also attempt to wedge the government and crossbenchers by requiring an explicit small- business representative and two regional, rural and remote Australia representatives. The government amendments in the House were agreed to after consultations with regional, rural and remote crossbenchers. I remind the opposition of the comments from the member for Indi on this issue. The minister engaged extensively and constructively with her and with external stakeholders to strengthen regional, rural and remote representation and small-business representation on the ministerial advisory board. No-one is asking for these amendments publicly, and no-one has asked the government for them privately either. Therefore, the government will not be supporting these amendments.</p> <p class="speaker">Mehreen Faruqi</p><p>The Greens will not be supporting the coalition's amendments on sheet 1993, because the amendments seek to reduce union representation on JSA's ministerial advisory board. This is an attack on workers, and the Greens will always stand with the workers.</p> <p class="speaker">Andrew McLachlan</p><p>The question before the chair is that coalition amendments (1) to (4) on sheet 1993, moved together by leave by Senator Cash, be agreed to.</p><p></p><p></p> -
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