DAVID DOWSETT [HOST]: Well, while our eyes have been on the incoming cyclone up North and the political leadership of our State, a Bill has been passed in parliament that’s almost gone under the radar. So, how does the Closing Loopholes Bill impact employers and employees? Senator Anthony Chisholm is Assistant Minister for Education and Regional Development. Anthony Chisholm, good morning.

ANTHONY CHISHOLM [ASSISTANT MINISTER]: Good morning, David. Good to be with you.

DOWSETT: Before we jump into the Bill, what are your thoughts on the change of leadership for Queensland?

CHISHOLM: Yeah, really excited by it, obviously. Annastacia Palaszczuk has been a tremendous Premier for the last nine years and has been a great leader for the Queensland Labor Party as well. But it’s an exciting opportunity for Steven Miles to refresh and renew the government. I’ve known Steven for a long time, personally. I think he’ll do an outstanding job and the challenges before him now, but I certainly know he’ll be looking to get out and about across Queensland as much as he can over the next couple of months.

DOWSETT: It was in dire need of a refresh, was it?

CHISHOLM: Well, I think that nine years in modern politics, David, is a very, very long time. So, Annastasia did a remarkable job winning the election in the first place when she started with the seven and then to be re-elected twice. So, I could understand why Annastasia felt it was time for her to move on. But the great thing for the government is they had a number of high-quality performers and I think Steven is at the forefront of that and I’m confident he’ll do a really good job for the State.

DOWSETT: So, to closing the Closing Loopholes Bill, what does it actually involve?

CHISHOLM: So, this is legislation that we’ve been working on basically since we came to Government. We’ve had a number of rounds of reform in terms of industrial relations, and this is the second part. And this really goes to issues that we’ve identified and been aware of and concerned about for a number of years now. And that’s the use of labour hire and how it’s being used to drive down wages and conditions and where you can have two people working side by side, one an employee of the company on a good wage and then someone next door working on labour-hire for years who’s being paid less but effectively doing the same job. We don’t think that’s fair. And this legislation is really focused on ensuring that the Fair Work Commission can actually make orders to ensure that workers aren’t being exploited and that those people who are employed on labour hire have the opportunity to go to full-time employment with the same company.

DOWSETT: How have employers reacted to this?

CHISHOLM: Well obviously this is something that we think is good for workers, but it provides certainty for business as well. I understand that there’s some businesses concerned about it, but by the same token, they haven’t addressed those concerns that we’ve had about the use of labour hire. So, we think this legislation gets the right balance so that those people can’t be exploited, and those wages and conditions can’t be driven down for everyone, which is what we’ve seen happen across the industry in Queensland.

DOWSETT: While we’re talking about protecting employees, in the news today, the National Construction Workers Union says any ban on engineered stone is long overdue. The National Secretary of the CFMEU, Zach Smith, says it’s time for governments to step up.

ZACH SMITH [CFMEU NATIONAL SECRETARY]: As many as one in four workers who use this product, whether in the factory or installing it on building sites, is contracting silicosis or another form of deadly dust disease. The WHS Ministers have an opportunity today to ban the importation, manufacture and use of engineered stone. And to be frank, anything less than that complete ban today is just unacceptable.

DOWSETT: So, what will be the Government’s approach to this?

CHISHOLM: I think that’s certainly something that the Government wants to achieve, David. I think that it is something that is concerning, and I think all Australians are aware of the potential risk to people and may know someone who’s been impacted. So, that’s certainly the direction the Government wants to go. Obviously, we need to work constructively with the States and Territories to achieve that, but we’re providing the national leadership to ensure that that is the case. So, I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to make progress on that today because it is urgent.

DOWSETT: Is it not as critical as managing asbestos?

CHISHOLM: I think that you don’t want to compare and contrast, but they’re both really important. And I think that the health concerns have been raised loud and clear by the union and others, and it is important that we take action as soon as we can.

DOWSETT: And as for the Closing Loopholes Bill, when does that come into effect?

CHISHOLM: So effectively it comes in when the Governor-General provides Royal Assent, which if it hasn’t happened already, I’m sure that will happen soon. So that will be the legislation applies and then orders in terms of the Fair Work Commission, will be effective from 1 November next year.

DOWSETT: Senator Anthony Chisholm, thanks very much.

CHISHOLM: No worries, David. Good to be with you again.

DOWSETT: Thanks now, Senator Anthony Chisholm, Assistant Minister for Education and Regional Development on ABC Wide Bay.

ENDS