QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
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INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS REFORM
The Hon. J. P. HANNAFORD: Will the Attorney General, and Minister for Industrial Relations give an assurance that his industrial relations reform proposals will be made available for consultation before they are considered by Parliament? If there is to be such consultation, what form will that consultation take? For how long will the legislation be available for public examination before it is considered by Parliament?
The Hon. J. W. SHAW: The answer to the primary question asked by the Leader of the Opposition is yes, the proposals will be available for public consultation. I propose that the working party representing employer and union interests will consider the matter in detail on Friday of this week. The bill will then be made available to the public as an exposure draft for approximately two weeks before it is debated in this Parliament.
The Hon. J. P. Hannaford: For only two weeks?
The Hon. J. W. SHAW: For approximately two weeks. The bill will no doubt be debated thoroughly in this Parliament. All submissions and views will be taken into account when it is made available. Key employer interests and other interests in the community have had access to the ideas and concepts in the bill. We have now reached the stage of looking at the detailed drafting. The Leader of the Opposition may be assured that the consultation process will be not only adequate; it will be fulsome.