AUSTRALIAN GREENS
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
SENATOR LEE RHIANNON
1.1
The Australian Greens, an alternative voice in Parliament with the guts
to stand up to the big miners, have been leading the Parliamentary charge to
protect local jobs.
1.2
Labor has sat on its hands for most of this Parliament and even only a
few months ago Labor was extolling the virtues of secretive Enterprise
Migration Agreements (EMAs), signed at the behest of the big miners, which have
the potential to undermine access by local workers to local projects.
1.3
Worse, in recent weeks we have seen an unedifying public debate about
the value and impact of subclass 457 visas on society and the economy.
1.4
Important policy questions regarding the role and regulation of
temporary skilled migration within the Australian labour market have been
reduced to a slanging match between the old parties.
1.5
It is unfortunate to say the least that xenophobic election tactics have
not only brought Pauline Hanson out of retirement but have also prevented a
rational discussion about when and how overseas skilled workers should
supplement the local labour force.
1.6
It is important that we not allow the dog whistle to drown out or
distort the genuine and legitimate concerns that the Protecting Local Jobs
(Regulating Enterprise Migration Agreements) Bill 2012 ('the bill') is seeking
to address.
1.7
That is why the Australian Greens wish to thank the committee members
and those who gave evidence to the inquiry for the rational and evidence based
contributions and the manner in which the deliberations of the committee have
been conducted. It has made an important contrast to the sometimes febrile
atmosphere with which these issues are discussed.
1.8
The Committee Majority report identifies many of the problems that the bill
seeks to address. These include: the lack of a role for the Employment Minister
in decisions on EMAs; the need for labour market testing; legislated
requirements for local jobs plans; locking in a jobs board; and putting in
place transparency requirements for EMAs.
1.9
It is because the Australian Greens are in Parliament that we are seeing
action on these fronts.
1.10
However, rather than support a legislative response the Committee Majority
report recommends government action and strengthening of the EMA guidelines to
address these problems.
1.11
While the Australian Greens welcome the support of the Senate Committee
for the Greens’ policy solutions – such as labour market testing including
advertising – we do not accept that legislation is not required.
1.12
The Australian Greens are not confident in the government’s commitment
to address the problems with EMAs that we have identified and that have been
confirmed by this inquiry.
1.13
The Committee’s report contains no compelling argument against putting
these protections in legislation.
1.14
Indeed, the Committee accepts the legitimacy of the concerns addressed
by the Bill. These protections should be enshrined in law.
1.15
It is clear that Parliament must take responsibility to put in place
proper regulation of EMAs.
1.16
Further, the Australian Greens would like to see many of the provisions
in the bill, especially the requirement for advertising job vacancies locally,
applying to all subclass 457 visas, not just those covered by EMAs.
Recommendation
1.17
While welcoming the Committee’s support for the policy underlying the
Australian Greens’ Bill and supporting the thrust of the recommendations
contained in the majority report, which mirror the provisions of the Bill, the
Australian Greens believe a legislative response is required and therefore
recommend the bill be passed.
Senator Lee Rhiannon
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