Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee, , 6:10:13 to 6:14:02
Inquiry into the safety and respectful workplace protocols established for Commissioner Hunt and Vice President Asbury, including work-from-home arrangements.
Topics: Workplace relations, Workplace culture
Speakers: Senator Fatima Payman, Zoe Bright, Murray Furlong, Senator Marielle Smith, Unknown Speaker, Senator Jane Hume, Senator Maria Kovacic
Thank you, Chair. Good afternoon. Thank you too. On Commissioner Hunt and Vice President Asbury. Did I pronounce that right? Yes. Yep, perfect. Their June statement said, and I quote, protocols will now be put in place to ensure a mutually safe and respectful workplace for Commissioner Hunt and Vice President Asbury. What protocols have been put in place?
Bright will be able to assist you.
In place, Senator Payman. Zoe Bright, Executive Director of the Legal Performance and Engagement Branch. The There's a significant amount of public information available about this matter between Commissioner Hunt and Vice President Asbury. They issued a media release on the 5th of June and asked for privacy going forward. Both of the Commission members are working and have a full case vote at the Commission. Senator, I understand that they I understand that there are protocols in place so that the Commission members don't attend the office at the same time.
Okay. Commission staff also agreed that Ms. Hunt would be given advanced notice of when Miss Asbury was travelling away from the office for work, as Ms. Hunt was only prepared to go into the office when Miss Asbury was not present. Is that still occurring?
Senator, I understand that that's part of the that they don't attend the office at the same time protocol.
Um the President, Mr. Hatcher gave permission for Ms. Hunt, who earns more than 400,000 a year to work from home whenever she wanted. Is that still the case and how often is she working from home?
Senator, I don't have that information. Um but I would say that working from home is a flexibility that a lot of Commission staff and members take up. Um and so it wouldn't be unusual that there's there's working from home arrangements in place.
Just curious to know how how many days or how often she's working from home, that's all. Um these officials, Commissioners Hunt and another official who are on more than 400,000 uh a year salary for improper people to be making decisions on workplace disputes uh of Australian workers.
Senator In the normal course of things, Senator, in any workplace issues sometimes arise. Um the Fairworth Commission is a very respectful, kind, safe working environment. Um when these issues do arise in the very rare you know circumstances rare times that they do arise. Um we deal with it with them like any any workplace does. Um they these members have sworn an oath of office and they are discharging their functions in accordance with um the requirements of the Fair Work Act.
And and just to follow up, I may have missed this earlier. You missed Bright, you said their workload has not changed. That's right. So it remains the same. Great. Thank you.
Heyman um I'm returning to the opposition now. I do just note um we're we're overdue to move to the obudsman, but notwithstanding you have the course in the capacity.
Thank you. I'll try and get through quickly. Do you want to go first? And then I'll finish off.
Thank you.