1. Dr WAYNE MAPP (National—North Shore) Link to this
What advice, if any, did she obtain in drafting her Minimum Wage and Remuneration Amendment Bill on the number of independent contractors who could be potentially affected by the bill?
DARIEN FENTON (Member in charge of the Minimum Wage and Remuneration Amendment Bill) Link to this
The advice I received is that there are no reliable estimates of people employed on contracts for services that would include pay rates less than the minimum wage.
Does the member expect, in the event her bill passes the first reading, the select committee to take advice on all the circumstances in which contractors are allegedly employed, including from her colleague Taito Phillip Field, given his vast experience in underpaying people?
Madam SPEAKERI am sorry but the member has no responsibility for the select committee, so that question is out of order.
Gerry BrownleeI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. The question from Wayne Mapp simply asked the member where she would take advice from. Surely she has to take some advice from somewhere; if she does not, she can just say she is not taking any. Dr Mapp gave an example, which, by your ruling today, is now quite OK. It is a hypothetical proposition put to a member, and, as we have read in a number of Speakers’ rulings today, hypothetical propositions are in order.
Yes, of course, and the member did address that. It was the second question—the follow-up, supplementary question—that was, in effect, asking the member about matters that the select committee is responsible for and for which she is not responsible. But, certainly, you are right, and she did address that question.
Peter BrownCould the member clarify whether it is possible that, under her bill, a person could win a contract at an agreed overall price, underachieve, or underestimate, or whatever, then be legally entitled to increased remuneration in order to bring him or her up to the minimum wage level?
Those are very complex matters and I look forward to the debate on them during the first reading and in a select committee as appropriate. [ Interruption]
There is normally only one supplementary question on questions to members. They are not treated the same as questions to Ministers.
I seek leave, then, to ask the member whether she sought any advice from her colleague Taito Phillip Field, given his deep experience in underpaying people.