Victorian Fair Jobs Code
Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:17): My question is for the Minister for Workplace Safety, and I refer to the so-called Victorian Fair Jobs Code, noting the jobs code carries the minister’s imprimatur. Will the minister explain to the house which act or other head of power this code is derived from?
Ms Stitt: President, I would seek your guidance in relation to Mr Davis’s question. The Victorian jobs code is not a matter that sits within the responsibility of my portfolio. In fact Minister Carroll in the other place is responsible for the development and has been the lead minister doing the work with stakeholders on this code. Of course the code does have a small reference to health and safety, as you would expect, but it is not a matter that sits within my portfolio.
The PRESIDENT: I am checking that. Is that under Minister Pulford?
Ms Stitt: No, it sits under the industry portfolio. It is the responsibility of Minister Carroll in the other place.
The PRESIDENT: All right. Well, Mr Davis, I ask you to redirect your question to Ms Pulford, who is representing Minister Carroll.
Mr DAVIS: Minister, given the role that you play with the jobs code, will you explain what input you have—
Ms Symes: You have just been asked to redirect it.
Mr DAVIS: I am, to the Minister for Workplace Safety.
The PRESIDENT: I asked you to redirect the question to the minister through Minister Pulford, who is representing him.
Mr DAVIS: All right. I will do as I am instructed, President.
The PRESIDENT: Thank you.
Mr DAVIS: I will therefore ask: what act or head of power is the code derived from?
Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:19): I thank Mr Davis for his question, and I will pass that on through Minister Pulford to Minister Carroll.
Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:19): The Buying for Victoria website states that the code will be a condition for tendering for all government work and further notes all suppliers seeking to be considered for high-value procurement and businesses applying for significant business expansion grants must submit a job code plan to the contracting Victorian government agency as part of the procurement or grant process. The code plan requires businesses to describe how they will move staff to full-time employment. I therefore ask: is it not a fact that this directly discriminates against women, who represent a high proportion of all part-time and casual staff, many by choice?
Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:20): I thank Mr Davis for his supplementary question, which will be passed on to Minister Carroll. I do welcome his interest in the jobs code and the benefit that it will bring to Victoria and Victorian workers. Specifically in relation to his question, I am sure Mr Carroll will be delighted to provide him with information on the equality requirements in relation to procurement and the advancement of women’s full-time employment.