Ludwig, Sen Joe

Senator Ludwig: The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question: Details of reviews, advisory councils and inquiries conducted in the Employment Workplace Relations portfolio from November 2007 until October 2011 are in the following table. Name of Review/ Advisory Council/ Inquiry Cost Chair (c) Recommendation in relation to Fair Work Act? Government taken action? Government taken action on recommendations in relation to Fair Work Act? Indigenous Business Policy Advisory Group (IBPAG) $5,057.12* DEEWR chaired the first meeting. It is expected that a chair will be selected by the second meeting of the IBPAG. No The IBPAG has not yet made any recommendation to the Australian Government. N/A Jobs Fund—Get Communities Working (GCW) Advisory Council Nil Patricia Faulkner No GCW Advisory Council's advice was considered in regard to the projects in aggregate identified for funding under the Jobs Fund's Get Communities Working stream. The Council also contributed to the changes in the Get Communities Working stream's guidelines for the second funding round of the Jobs Fund. N/A Disability Employment Services Review $272,800 The Hon Brendan O'Connor MP No Yes, Disability Employment Services implemented 1 March 2010 N/A The Review of the Supported Wage System $384,000 N/A No N/A – in progress N/A Review of the National Disability Recruitment Coordinator Program N/A – internal review N/A – departmental staff completing the work No No – review is in progress and due for completion 31 May 2012. N/A Review of the Job Seeker Classification Instrument, conducted in 2008-09 $182,893 N/A No June 2009—Introduction of updated JSCI enabling referral of job seekers to appropriate servicing in Job Services Australia and Disability Employment Services. N/A Review of the Job Capacity Assessment Program, conducted in 2007–08 N/A N/A No November 2009 —significant reforms to Job Capacity Assessments responding to the Government's Social Inclusion Agenda including commitment to address qualifications of assessors and use of specialist assessment. N/A Consultation on future employment services— The Government sought feedback on the operation of Job Services Australia and Disability Employment Services. N/A N/A No The Government responded to the feedback it received in the 2011-12 Budget. N/A Industry Reference Group – established in 2009 Cost met from Departmental resources Lisa Paul AO PSM, Secretary No The Industry Reference Group on Employment Services Purchasing conducted a review on the mid-term business reallocation process. Their report was endorsed by the Minister for Employment Participation and recommendations implemented as part of the mid-term business reallocation process. N/A Independent review of the impact of the job seeker compliance framework (Disney Review) $115,000 Professor Julian Disney AO No Measures announced as part of Building Australia's Future Workforce in the 2011-12 Budget. N/A Review of DEEWR Social Security Appeals and Litigation Arrangements $5,000 Lisa Paul AO PSM, Secretary No Yes. The recommendations of the review report (available at http://www.deewr.gov.au/employment/Pages/SocialSecurityAppealLit.aspx) have been implemented. N/A Employment Services Review Cost met within Departmental Resources N/A No Implementation of Job Services Australia N/A Review of Remote Participation and Employment Services Cost was met within Departmental resources (DEEWR and FAHCSIA) N/A No Review was completed in September 2011. N/A Taskforce on Strengthening Government Service Delivery for Job seekers Cost met within Departmental resources (DEEWR and the now DHS) Graham Carters headed a cross agency taskforce No Report has been published. Recommendations implemented by Department of Human Services on job seeker servicing arrangements (Local Connections to Work) and employment services in 2012 (job seeker workshops). N/A National Review into Model Occupational Health and Safety Laws $1,500,000 Robin Stewart- Crompton No The report was responded to by WRMC and Safe Work Australia was tasked with implementing the reforms. The reforms have mainly been completed (model WHS legislation implemented in 5 jurisdictions as at 1/1/12; other 4 jurisdictions implementation outstanding). N/A Transition to Fair Work Australia for the Building and Construction Industry $330,796.31 The Hon Murray Wilcox QC No Yes—Introduction into Parliament of the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Amendment (Transition to Fair Work) Bill 2009 which subsequently lapsed when the 2010 Federal election was called. This Bill was reintroduced as the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Amendment (Transition to Fair Work) Bill 2011 on 3 November 2011 and was passed by the Parliament on 20 March 2012. N/A Asbestos Management Review $1.5 million over three financial years Mr Geoff Fary No N/A – Review ongoing N/A Review of Self Insurance Arrangements under the Comcare Scheme $193,744 N/A No DEEWR published its report to the Minister on the Department's website. The Department's report made a number of recommendations. On 25 September 2009, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations announced a number of changes to Commonwealth workers' compensation arrangements in response to the review. The Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2011, which implemented these changes, was passed by the Parliament on 25 November 2011. N/A Safe Rates Advisory Group $107,250 Scott Chamberlain (Independent chair) (2009-2010) John Kovacic (Deputy Secretary, DEEWR) (2011) No The Government has responded to the National Transport Commission 2008 report, Safe Payments: Addressing the Underlying Causes of Unsafe Practices in the Road Transport Industry , by introducing the Road Safety Remuneration Bills to the Parliament. The Bills were passed by the Parliament on 20 March 2012 and are scheduled to commence on 1 July 2012. N/A Booth Report 2009 $25,559 Ms Anna Booth of CoSolve No The Government is having regard to the Booth report as part of its consideration of future funding arrangements for those Community Based Employment Advisory Services which currently receive funding from the Fair Work Ombudsman. The government is seeking joint formal funding arrangements with the relevant state and territory governments and has commenced consultations to facilitate this. N/A Review of Working Women's Centres 2008/2009 $94,873.90 N/A No The findings of this review were considered in the broader review of community Based employment Advice Services undertaken by CoSolve on behalf of the Fair Work Ombudsman. N/A OECD Review of Australia's Activation Policies Approx $134,000* OECD No Not applicable—final report due in 2012 N/A Review of Migration Occupations in Demand List Methodology Cost met from Departmental resources DIAC and DEEWR (co-chairs) No Media release noting Government response at www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/media-releases/2010/ce10 and www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/speeches/2010/ce100208.htm 006.htm N/A DEEWR Governance Review $79,200^ N/A No N/A N/A ^This cost has been updated since it was last provided in response to previous questions *GST does not apply to these costs