Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke has left room for further debate about protecting small businesses from being wrangled into multi-employer agreements.
Under the current Secure Jobs, Better Pay bill, workers are excluded from bringing businesses of less than 15 people to the negotiating table in multi-employer deals if the employer doesn’t agree to it.
Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
The opposition and crossbenchers say the benchmark is too low, as small businesses such as cafés often have more than 15 staff.
The Coalition moved an amendment to the bill to raise the threshold to 200, which Burke said was too high. However, he said: “This debate will continue as to how do you basically define a small business, and there is a reasonable conversation to be had there.”
Meanwhile, South Australian independent Rebekha Sharkie has pushed to amend the legislation to raise the threshold to 100, saying the reform would capture fruit and vegetable stores, petrol stations, and other small, independent operators.
“This bill is unwittingly putting mum-and-dad operators against unions,” Sharkie said.
“This government is setting up small business for a David and Goliath battle, where David is small business and Goliath is the unions.”
Burke said the government’s preference was to keep it at 15 people.
“I want to make clear the government will be opposing the amendments, with the understanding that the debate on this will…
