2020-11-11
The Parliament is potentially at an impasse over the government's JobMaker bill after an Australian Greens initiated amendment to the bill, co-sponsored by the ALP, passed the Senate.
The amendment provides a safeguard against businesses firing workers or reducing their hours in order to make new hires which would receive a government subsidy.
If the Senate insists on the amendment, then the government may be forced to accept it. Last night the Senate voted for the amendment moved by Greens Senator, Mehreen Faruqi, but the government this morning rejected it in the House. The Bill will now return to the Senate, where the Senate may insist on the amendment.
“The Greens have secured an important protection for workers,” said Mr Bandt,
“The government didn’t even put up one speaker against it in the House.”
“The Greens call on the Senate to stare the government down and insist on this crucial amendment.”
“The Greens also put forward proposals to stop wage thieves and corporations who have increased dividends to shareholders during the pandemic getting taxpayers money to reduce their wages bills.
“Much of this bill remains corporate welfare dressed up as support for workers, but the Greens have secured some important changes and the Senate should insist on them remaining in the bill.”
The Greens and Labor also worked together on a narrowly-defeated amendment to bring the Fair Work Commission in to settle disputes arising from JobMaker.