Workplace Relations Amendment (Protecting the Low Paid) Bill 2003
First Reading

Workplace Relations Amendment (Protecting the Low Paid) Bill 2003
First Reading

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2002-2003

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Presented and read a first time

Workplace Relations Amendment (Protecting the Low Paid) Bill 2003

No. , 2003

(Employment and Workplace Relations)

A Bill for an Act to amend the Workplace Relations Act 1996, and for related purposes

Contents

1       Short title 1

2       Commencement 1

3       Schedule(s) 1

Schedule 1--Amendment of the Workplace Relations Act 1996       3

Part 1--Amendments       3

Part 2--Application       4

A Bill for an Act to amend the Workplace Relations Act 1996, and for related purposes

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1 Short title

        This Act may be cited as the Workplace Relations Amendment (Protecting the Low Paid) Act 2003.

2 Commencement

        This Act commences on the day after it receives the Royal Assent.

3 Schedule(s)

        Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1--Amendment of the Workplace Relations Act 1996

Part 1--Amendments

1 At the end of subparagraph 3(d)(ii)

Add ", primarily to address the needs of the low paid".

2 At the end of paragraph 88A(d)

Add:

       ; and (iii) recognises that the primary role of awards is to address the needs of the low paid.

3 Paragraph 88B(2)(c)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

       (c) when adjusting the safety net:

       (i) as a primary consideration, the needs of the low paid, including their need for employment; and

       (ii) the employment prospects of the unemployed; and

       (iii) the capacity of employers to meet increased labour costs.

Part 2--Application

4 Application of Part 1 amendments

(1)       The amendments made by Part 1 of this Schedule apply to proceedings in relation to an industrial dispute that is notified to the Commission:

       (a) on or before the commencing day--if the Commission has not finished dealing with the dispute before that day; and

       (b) after the commencing day.

(2)       In this item:

commencing day means the day this Act commences.