Thursday, 10 February 2022

On-demand workforce

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:23): My question is for the Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy. The Department of Premier and Cabinet released late last year new standards for parts of the digital economy. Titled the Fair Conduct and Accountability Standards for the Victorian On-demand Workforce, it claimed the proposed standards are justified as ‘implementing recommendations 13 and 14’ of the Natalie James inquiry. Yet in fact the James inquiry’s primary recommendation was that the commonwealth should lead the development of fair conduct and accountability standards. Isn’t it a fact, Minister, that your government’s report and direction for the gig economy is directly at odds with the James inquiry’s view that the commonwealth should lead?

Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (12:24): Well, the commonwealth government leading things is not their super specialty. I might take that question on notice because parts of those areas of portfolio responsibility sit with Minister Pearson. The difference between the minister for digital services and the minister for the digital economy is ultimately a private sector/public sector line, so I will need to confer with Minister Pearson on that. The gig economy work is led by Minister Pallas in his capacity as Minister for Industrial Relations. So obviously this is relevant to the smooth functioning of the digital economy. I am not suggesting for a second that I do not have an interest in it, but I think if I can take that on notice and confer with my colleagues I will be able to provide Mrs McArthur with a more fulsome answer that takes into account the intersection of all of those things.

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:25): Thank you, Minister. I look forward to the collaboration of the three of you getting to an answer. My supplementary question relates to the fact that the Victorian economy is on its knees after two years of this government’s debilitating lockdowns, and I therefore ask: why does the Labor government choose now to implement a shadow state-level industrial relations system with all the risks that will stifle the productivity of flexible digital platforms and entrepreneurial gig workers?

Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (12:26): On the state of the economy, can I just indicate that Victoria is currently leading all states on construction activity. Deloitte Access Economics are predicting the Victorian economy will grow by a combined 7.2 per cent over this and the next financial year, outperforming the nation as a whole. Unemployment in regional Victoria, as Mrs McArthur would no doubt know, is 3.3 per cent and statewide it is 4.2 per cent, at or close to record lows, and we are leading the nation in new housing approvals. So the economy is strong in spite of the pandemic, and it is a reflection of the ingenuity and entrepreneurship of people right across the Victorian community. They should be incredibly proud of the role that they are all playing in that, whether they are business owners, operators, employees or indeed people working in the public sector supporting their effort.

On those questions around the gig economy and the roles of the commonwealth government in industrial relations and the state in industrial relations, there were about 6 million questions in that. It might take a couple of days to work out who I need to check with to answer and who the responsible minister is for that half a dozen or so different things.