Reports of another set of changes to the Federal Government’s Closing Loopholes Bill is a sign of a deeply flawed set of reforms, according to CCIWA.
CCIWA has led the national debate for service contractors to be carved out of the Bill, presenting its case to a Senate Committee in Perth last month and releasing the results of a concerning survey of more than 700 WA small and family businesses.
While the reported exclusions for service contractors in the mining industry are welcome, the details remain to be released, and there are still a number of concerning elements in the Bill that will impact WA’s mining sector and broader economy.
CCIWA Chief Executive, Chris Rodwell, said the Government has effectively admitted the bill is deeply flawed.
Mr Rodwell said the Bill was littered with hazards that will cause pain across the West Australian economy, including for small and family businesses and the health and community services sector.
“This Bill includes changes to casual employment and transport pricing which will have real flow-on impacts across the economy. Increased right of entry for unions and increased rights for union delegates will see significant power handed to union bosses,” he said.
“These issues remain unaddressed, and the impact will cut right across our economy and affect businesses of all sizes.”
CCIWA’s survey of more than 700 businesses highlighted significant flaws in the Bill, showing significant concern from WA businesses across all sectors and of all sizes.
“Many of those issues remain unresolved despite concessions made on casual employment and now service contractors, which CCIWA and other groups campaigned strongly against,” Mr Rodwell said.
“While there’s rightly a focus on the bigger mining companies who will be impacted by some of the remaining aspects of the Bill, it’s crucial we don’t lose sight of the smaller employers and those in the health and community sector who are already struggling with ever-increasing costs.
“CCIWA will continue to advocate for those businesses and in the best interests of the WA economy.
“Coupled with the significant role the mining sector plays in our economy and the reliance of many smaller businesses on the resources industry, CCIWA continues to call on the Government to pull this Bill from the parliament and start again.”
