Labor and the Greens join forces in the Senate to delay BSWAT payment scheme

Labor and the Greens today joined forces in the Senate to block the timely establishment of a payment scheme that will provide certainty for people with disability working in Australian Disability Enterprises.

The Government introduced the package of Business Services Wage Assessment Tool (BSWAT) payment scheme Bills into the Senate this afternoon, after it passed the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

But Labor and the Greens today joined together in the Senate to stall the establishment of the scheme by referring the Bills to a Committee with a reporting date which is months away.

The Bill establishes a payment scheme for employees of Australian Disability Enterprises who have been paid a pro-rata wage assessed using the BSWAT and have experienced economic loss.

The payment scheme is due to start receiving applications from 1 July, weeks before the Committee reporting date dictated by Labor and the Greens of 26 August.

The establishment of the scheme follows the outcome of the recent Federal Court case brought by Mr Nojin and Mr Prior.

Longer term, the Government will develop a new wage assessment process for use by Australian Disability Enterprises.

The Government is committed to ensuring supported employees, their families and employers have certainty about their future employment within Australian Disability Enterprises.

The Coalition Government will deliver the BSWAT payment scheme, no matter what delaying tactics Labor and the Greens attempt.

Further information for media can be found at www.dss.gov.au/bswat/media.