PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Mr VENNING (Grey) (11:33): More words and more bureaucracies from this Labor government—we need to fix what we've got, not add more complexity to the already complex system. The coalition supports a workplace relations system that is simple, fair and easy to comply with. Most importantly, the coalition supports a system that delivers timely justice for workers and employers.

Workers deserve to be paid every dollar they are owed. Employers have a responsibility to provide fair wages and conditions, and every organisation, regardless of who they are, must comply with the law. But Labor's response to an already complex industrial relations system is just to create another layer of legal process and more red tape.

The Albanese government's announcement of a proposed new Fair Work Court raises far more questions than it answers. If even the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations cannot comply with Australian workplace laws, then how does Labor believe that adding more layers, more litigation, more red tape and another court will magically fix the system? This does not make any sense.

There are some very basic questions this Albanese Labor government needs to answer. Firstly, will this new court be able to overturn decisions of the Fair Work Commission, or will it be subject to the commission? Secondly, when should a worker or an employer seek resolution through this proposed court, and when should they go to the Fair Work Commission?

Thirdly, can a business be taken to both the commission and the court for the same workplace matter, or will it be one process or the other? Fourthly, will certain groups receive priority over others when bringing claims? These are very simple questions, and they go directly to whether this proposal will actually make Australian workplace relations simpler, faster and fairer.

Rather than creating another institution, the government should be focused on making workplace laws simpler, clearer and easier to comply with. We share the concerns of workers, employers and small businesses about lengthy delays in resolving workplace disputes. Justice delayed is justice denied, but simply creating another court does not guarantee faster outcomes.

I would argue the opposite. How does adding another layer of bureaucracy make things faster? We know it doesn't.

That's common sense. Nor does it guarantee a fairer system. These concerns are not coming from the coalition alone.

These concerns are shared by industry, including ACCI, the Business Council of Australia and the Australian Industry Group. Everyone is warning that another new court risks adding costs, complexity and another layer of red tape to an already overly complex workplace relations system. As one chief executive put it, the proposal is 'a bandaid on a fundamentally broken system'.

That is an important point. Employers are already drowning in complexity. Small businesses in Grey are closing at an alarming rate due to the cost-of-living pressures and the cost-of-doing-business pressures.

Adding another institution, another layer of bureaucracy and another layer of red tape will not solve any problems. Indeed, ACCI has warned that Labor's workplace changes have already produced greater uncertainty, expanded jurisdiction and increased litigation. Its description of the potential consequences of this as 'a lawyer's picnic' is telling.

The Albanese Labor government needs to explain why. Why create another legal process instead of fixing the underlying problems? Why add another layer when workers and businesses are already struggling to navigate the system?

Why does Labor believe more litigation will deliver better workplace relations? The coalition will carefully scrutinise the details of this proposal when they are released. We will stand up for workers across regional South Australia, who deserve to be paid what they are owed, and for employers, who deserve clear, workable laws.

But Labor must explain how this proposal will reduce delays, improve compliance and deliver better outcomes than reforming the workplace relations system itself. Australians deserve a workplace relations system that delivers certainty, fairness and timely justice. (Time expired)