OAKESHOTT WELCOMES REVIEW OF FAIR WORK AUSTRALIA DECISION

INDEPENDENT MP for Lyne Robert Oakeshott has today strongly welcomed the decision by Fair Work Australia to hear an appeal to change the ‘three-hour minimum’ retail rule to two hours for school-aged employees.
“We started this Federal election campaign with a strong message from the Mid-North Coast small business community that the recent decision to make school-aged children work a minimum three hours on school days was wrong, and was inflexible to the needs of both employers and employees in the local retail sector,” Mr Oakeshott said.
“Both the major parties were silent on this issue when the retail rule was upheld and didn’t stand up for the retail sector, which is our biggest employer locally.
“Both remain silent on smoothing out the warts as they arise on industrial relations reform more generally over the coming three-year term of Parliament.
“In our region, we are now on the back end of the slower winter period and this decision by Fair Work Australia arrived at the wrong time in what has been a fluky 2010 for retail, accommodation and tourism sectors.
“Our continued lobbying to have this decision reviewed was in recognition of the need for Government policy to support our biggest employer on the North Coast.”
Mr Oakeshott said he hoped Fair Work Australia would make a sensible decision that allowed the region’s young people to balance school with paid work opportunities.
“Local employers like Mike Levine at Wingham pharmacy should be encouraged to continue employing up to seven school students, such as Jeremy Dawson,” Mr Oakeshott said.
“The recent decision was a direct threat to that employment for school-age teenagers.
“Likewise, Harrington Food Stop owner Marie Bourne has told us that young workers, particularly those who have to travel longer distances from smaller towns to attend school, were under threat because of this wrong decision, and the continued silence by Government in acknowledging this problem over the past month.
“And with an election in mind this week, it is a reminder of the power that Independent MP’s and their communities can bring to the national policy agenda.
“Just six weeks ago we started this push for change to the Fair Work Australia decision.
“For this ‘lose/lose’ decision to be reviewed so quickly is welcomed, and the challenge now is to make sure Fair Work Australia brings in sensible and workable policy for retailers in the small business sector in regional Australia – particularly those in seasonal work communities such as the Mid-North Coast.
“I am pleased we’ve helped get this decision reviewed and look forward to a sensible outcome for all.”
ENDS