[Greens-Media] Parliament rejects inadequate BSWAT Bill

[Redman, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

24 November 2014

Parliament rejects inadequate BSWAT Bill

The Australian Greens have welcomed the Senate's rejection of the Business Services Wage Assessment Tool (BSWAT) Bill, saying that it failed to address fundamental discrimination against people with disability.

"The clear message from the people with disabilities and peak disability organisations was that this Bill should not pass Parliament, and I am glad that the Greens were able to help deliver that outcome," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on disability issues said today.

"Compensation for people with disability who have been paid unfair wages under the flawed BSWAT process must be a priority, but this Bill failed to deliver a fair outcome.

"It would have paid only 50% of the wages people are owed and would have demanded they waive legal rights to pursue compensation through the courts before accessing the payment.

"The Australian Human Rights Commission told Senate Estimates last week that that 33% of all complaints made under the Disability Discrimination Act relate to employment, a sign of the ongoing discrimination that exists in Australia's job market.

"We need stronger measures to support people with disability in the workforce and make sure that they are paid a fair wage.

"Government should be doing all they can to support people with disability into employment," Senator Siewert concluded.