16 May 2014

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor has strongly backed the need for more flexible and productive workplaces.

Speaking in Parliament this week in support of the Federal Government’s Fair Work Amendment Bill, Mr Taylor said across retail and resource sectors, productivity had plummeted and Australia’s regulatory environment was “stifling”.

“More than ever Australian workplaces - and when I use that term I am referring to both employees and employers - need this Parliament's assistance in meeting the challenges they face in the 21st century. This assistance cannot and must not come in the form of onerous new regulations and restrictions. It must come by liberating employers and employees from the things that hold them back.

“Employers need to be able to get on with doing what they do - innovating, growing and making money. I am genuinely pleased that there are many safeguards in this legislation for employees. I am delighted that this will help employees and employers in my electorate, particularly in the retail and services sector, conduct their lives and businesses as they see fit.

“Here is one man who is passionate about small business: bakery owner Grant Pearce at Boorowa. He employs 26 staff, many of them casuals. Some of those staff want flexibility to work at times that suit them. However, he cannot afford to pay penalty rates to deliver what they want. It costs him double and a half at Easter and Christmas, yet these are his busiest trading days. We want to allow good people like Grant Pearce, the young people he employs, students and families to work around their busy commitments. Under these amendments, they will be able to trade wages for valuable extra annual leave, which is precious time for working couples who both work full time.

“The Fair Work Amendment Bill is about sensible and measured reforms - essential reforms,” Mr Taylor said.