Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee, , 6:03:50 to 6:06:47
Update on the resolution of long-standing demarcation disputes between the AWU and CFMEU as part of the union's administration process.
Topics: Workplace relations, Integrity
Speakers: Murray Furlong, Senator Maria Kovacic
Crosby's appointment?
I will deal with the demarcation matter first. I'm very pleased to report there's been significant progress that's been made in relation to the resolution of long-standing demarcation disputes between the AW and the CFMU. Jeffrey Watson SC's report that related to conduct in Queensland in particular. On the back of that, I understood that there was a very significant issue, and in my letter of appointment associated with my letter of appointment to Mr. Crosby, I seem to focus on this particular element, and he's absolutely done that. Commissioner, former Commissioner Julius Rowe, to work with both of those organizations to work through their rules, their eligibility rules, and determine where the eligibility sits for each of those unions, and not only to determine a standing agreement between the organisations, and they've done a lot of work together already, and other stakeholders have been involved. I understand that Mr. Rowe has also met with employer associations and those that represent the interests of employers as well. And that a an initial draft decision for certain elements of the demarcation he's made a um preliminary sort of findings. Now part of the agreement is that the AW and CFMU have agreed to comply and to observe what Mr. Rowe identifies as the demarcation between the two the two unions. But to improve things for the future, it's not just about people understanding where the demarcation between the unions rests. It also needs to be, in the normal course of things, there will be disputation because there will be areas where it's not particularly clear where there is where the eligibility sits. And one of the things that has been considered by Mr. Rowe and the unions at the moment is when these issues arrive, arise, what is the best mechanism for resolving them? And it's not through industrial fixes. It's actually to identify a mechanism that they both agree to that when a dispute arises that this is how it will be dealt with.