Documents Workplace Relations 10.14379.pdf - Chief Minister's ...

Jon Stanhope MLA
CHIEF MINISTER
MINISTER FOR illANSPORT MINISTER FOR TERRITORY AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES
MINISTER FOR BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MINISTER FOR LAND AND PROPERTY SERVICES
MINISTER FOR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES SillAIT ISLANDER AFFAIRS
MINISTER FOR THE ARTS AND HERITAGE
MEMBER FOR G!NNINDERRA
Mr .Warren Tegg Mr Patrick Moody
ALP Executive Staff Representative Greens Staff Representative
Mr Ian Hagan Mr Andrew Hunter
Liberal Staff Representative ALP Non-. Executive Staff Representative
Dear Sirs
I write in response to your letter of 23 December 20 I 0 conceming current enterprise
negotiations and the remaining contentious issues of time in lieu, annual leave and
tetmination payments.
I regret that staff have not recognised the significant concessions made by the
Management Negotiating Team in respect of these issues and that there appears to have
been a decision taken to prosecute this matter away from the bargaining table.
The suggestion that management's position in respect of TOIL and the administration of
excess amiualleave will impinge upon the flexible operation of MLA offices is simply
incotTect. Where good management practices are applied, all offices will be able to
operate effectively under the proposed changes. It is notable that in various areas of the
ACT Public Service business needs, including long and irregular hours, dictate patticular .
TOIL arrangements, yet none are so .generous as those provided to MLA staff. Moreover,
MLA's should be concerned over any practice which facilitates the inappropriate use of
atmualleave for purposes other than which it was intended.
The argument that MLA staff should be provided with the equivalent increased pay and
conditions negotiated for the ACT Public Service in mid 2010, yet not subject to similar
reasonable administrative practices when it comes to time in lieu and annual leave
equally appears to be little more than 'cherry picking'.
I would also reiterate that the suggested changes to termination payments arise from the
findings of the 2009 Auditor-General report into the administration of employment
arrangements in the Legislative Assembly. Fwther, that while equivalent termination
provisions may currently be found in the Federal Parliam.ent, practice varies across all
other Australian jurisdictions.
.ACT LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
London Circuit, Canberra ACT 2601 GPO Box 1020, Canberra ACT 2601
Phone (02) 6205 0104 Fax (02) 6205 0433 Email stanhope®act.gov.au