Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee, , 4:13:15 to 4:15:09
Discussion on the consultation process for non-compete reforms, specifically regarding the involvement of small business peak bodies and the Small Business Ombudsman.
Topics: Workplace relations, Law reform
Speakers: Greg Manning, Speaker 25, Senator Jane Hume, Unknown Speaker, Senator Marielle Smith
Okay, terrific.
These were initially foreshadowed in the competition reform piece being led by the Department of the Treasury. Uh, they have gone through multiple rounds of consultation on competition reforms, um, including the restraint of trade in employment elements, which are largely what this bill would give effect to. Um, while the department hasn't necessarily been involved in the detail of that consultation up until this point, these matters have been canvassed through consultation. Specifically on this bill, the department does have its standard consultative mechanisms around the Fair Work Act, which Mr. Manning alluded to earlier, um, and the Cosboar was involved in that consultation.
So specifically on the elements of the Fair Work Act that these that this policy affects.
small business peaks in very small businesses were engaged with Treasury in that process that treasury led process around the broader competition law reforms? Additionally, um, as um the legislation's become more developed, there's been the uh usual uh consultation that occurs on any amendment to the Fair Work Act. Um, whether the small business ombudsman was part of it, I don't know, so it wasn't off the top of the head, but what we can do, notwithstanding that it's in Treasury Senator, we could take on notice who they consulted with to see whether or not um the small business uh small family business ombudsman was part of those early consultations.
Senator, this will be the last question before we suspend for lunch.