‘Truncated the parliamentary process’: Labor ‘preventing scrutiny’ of IR bill

Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson has accused the Albanese government of “truncating the parliamentary process” by ramming through their industrial relations bill, which they are “preventing scrutiny” of.

The Albanese government’s planned changes to industrial relations are set to pass after they secured the necessary support from independent Senator David Pocock after he convinced the government of a series of amendments.

“We discovered late last night because the government has rammed this through and has completely truncated the parliamentary process and preventing scrutiny of this bill,” Mr Paterson told Sky News Australia.

“There could be $18,000 for employers who innocently contact their employees after hours – I think that is absolutely ridiculous in a modern economy.

“Frankly, I wonder whether the Labor Party and the union movement will be abiding by these restrictions themselves. Are ministers not going to call their staff after hours; they’re not going to contact them on the weekend if there’s a media story that needs responding to?

‘Truncated the parliamentary process’: Labor ‘preventing scrutiny’ of IR bill

“I’d be very surprised if that was the case.”