Smyth Delays Laws To Protect Workers Entitlements

Wayne Berry - Opposition Spokesperson on Industrial Relations

Media Statement - 28 February 2000

"Workers' entitlements to Long Service Leave are being denied protection because of the failure of Brendan Smyth to act on legislation which was passed last year", Labor Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Wayne Berry, said today.

Legislation to provide an industry based portability scheme and a central fund to protect cleaning workers' long service leave entitlements was passed in the ACT Legislative Assembly on 8 December 1999 and gazetted on 23 December 1999.

Over two months later the Minister has not appointed the Cleaning Industry Long Service Leave Board which is responsible for the administration of the fund.

"Minister Smyth opposed the establishment of the fund. By not appointing the Board he is denying cleaning industry workers early implementation of a scheme that will protect their entitlements", according to Mr Berry.

"Many cleaning industry workers find that their workplace or employer changes from time to time. In the past, they have had to start accumulating long service leave again each time this happens.

"Brendan's Smyth's last job before entering the ACT Assembly was working for the Federal Workplace Relations Minister, Peter Reith, who has failed to adequately protect workers' entitlements. Mr Smyth seems to have picked up some bad habits from this experience.

"National Textiles, Oakdale Mines and Woodlawn Mines stand as sentinels to the Liberal's tardiness in properly protecting workers' entitlements. Brendan Smyth is mirroring his mentor by dragging the chain on providing protection for over 2000 ACT workers.

"These workers should not pay because of artificial delays manufactured by a Minister who is behaving like a brat when he has not had his own way. Minister Smyth must demonstrate his acceptance of the Assembly's decision by immediately establishing the Cleaning Industry Long Service Leave Board", Mr Berry concluded.