Workplace Relations

Strip out the power to favour businesses by their workplace deals when handing out Commonwealth grants and contracts — back it or block it?

This was a vote on amendments by independent MP Allegra Spender to a workplace relations bill. The bill lets the Commonwealth preference businesses that use enterprise agreements when spending grant, procurement and contract money across an $830 billion annual budget. Spender's amendments would remove that part while keeping the rest of the bill. Her amendments were rejected 44 to 88. The full bill was then agreed to 87 to 43.