MINUTES – EMPLOYEE CONSULTATIVE GROUP (ECG) MEETING

Friday, 8 September 2017

Parliament House, Room 1S2

Present:

Ms Helen Lewis / The Hon Stuart Robert MP
Ms Rosemary Little / The Hon Peter Dutton MP
Mr John Harris / The Hon Dan Tehan MP
Mr Nathan Winn / Ms Nola Marino MP
Ms Loretta Sist / Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham
Mr Josh Manuatu / Senator the Hon Eric Abetz
Ms Alison Byrnes / The Hon Sharon Bird MP
Mr Thomas Moorhead / Senator the Hon Kim Carr
Ms Maree Goodrick / Senator Kimberley Kitching
Ms Sophie Nicolle / Senator Richard Di Natale
Mr Tim Hurd / Mr Andrew Wilkie MP
Ms Kim Travers / Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU)
Mr Craig Brown / Australian Services Union (ASU)
Ms Liz Dowd / Senator the Hon Scott Ryan
Mr Tony Nairn / Department of Finance (Finance)
Ms Bek Bjarnadottir / Finance
Ms Ellie Whiteaker (Observer) / Senator Louise Pratt

Apologies: Mr Jordan Qian

Meeting Opened:10:05 am

Meeting Chair:Mr Tony Nairn

Meeting Closed:12.55 PM

Members of Parliament StaffEnterprise Agreement | Employee Consultative Group | Meeting: 8 September 2017

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Agenda Item 1 – Welcome and Apologies

  • Mr Nairn opened the meeting, welcomed all attendees and noted apologies. Mr Nairn called for nominations to chair the meeting, none were received.

Agenda Item 2 – Terms of Reference for the Employee Consultative Group

  • Mr Nairnbriefly explained the proposed Terms of Reference (ToR).
  • Members of the ECG requested that a person from the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA)attend for a period of future meetings as required. Mr Nairn advised that he would endeavour to have a representative attend the next meeting of the ECG and where there are agenda items that call for a representative.
  • There was discussion regarding the role of the ECG, the way that it functions, the role of observers and reserve members and whether the ToRshould be signed by members of the ECG.
  • Ms Byrnes requested details of the calculation of ECG representatives proportional to party staff numbers.
  • Ms Goodrick offered to send draft amendments to the ToR to Finance to be distributed to the ECGfor consultation.

Agenda Item 3 – Enterprise Agreement Guidelines

Employee Assistance Program
  • Access to EAP services after hours for staff located in Tasmania was discussed.
  • Concerns were raised regarding confidentiality. Mr Nairn explained that Finance receives no information regarding who has accessed the service.
  • Changes to the wording of the guideline were discussed and agreed to. Ms Goodrick requested that the amended guideline be circulated to the ECG for final comments.
  • The ECG requested that Finance look to promote the EAP manager assist service.
Ongoing – Non-ongoing –Casual Employment
  • The arrangements for salaries above the range for senior staff employees were discussed.
  • Amendments to the guideline were put forward by Ms Goodrick noted that the ALP representatives had consolidated amendments to this guideline and offered to forward these to Finance for distribution to the ECG. Ms Goodrick stated that extensive amendments were proposed for other guidelines and offered to provide the first group to Finance shortly for distribution to the ECG to enable consultation prior to the next meeting.

Agenda Item 4 – Individual flexibility arrangement – convert superannuation to allowance

  • Ms Travers raised questions about this arrangement. Ms Dowd explained that a MOP(S) Act employee requested an IFA and the Special Minister of State decided thatthis arrangement should be made available to all eligible staff.
  • The process of entering into an IFA was discussed.
  • Mr Moorhead asked if there would need to be changes to the Final Entitlements Estimator to account for this allowance. Mr Nairn advised he would investigate this.

Agenda Item 5 – Other Business

Cabcharge
  • Ms Byrnes raised concerns regardinga fact sheet on Cabcharge use produced by IPEA. She expressed dissatisfaction that IPEA had not amended the fact sheet or informed her of when it would be amended. Mr Nairn advised he would contact IPEA to seek information on this matter.

M&PS Website

  • The newly developed M&PS website was discussed. Ms Travers asked if the new website would allow for claims and forms to be submitted online, Ms Dowd indicated there is a new IT system planned for both Finance and IPEA which will enable more processes to be online.

Security upgrades

  • Mr Moorhead asked about security audits in electorate offices and advised they have an issue with egress in their office.Ms Dowd encouraged him to notify M&PS’ WHS team of the issue. Ms Dowd noted that security audits are being undertaken in electorate offices by the Attorney General’s Department.

Staff Cafeteria, parking and IT speeds

  • MsByrnes requested that a person from the Department of Parliamentary Services attend the next meeting to address concerns regarding the menu at the staff cafeteria in Parliament House, car parking and the speed of Parliament House IT systems. Mr Winn noted that DPS conducts an IT consultative forum for MOP(S) Act employees that would be the appropriate place for that matter. Mr Nairn advised he would approach DPS on the other matters.

Agenda Item 6 – Next Meeting

  • The ECG agreed to schedule meetings on Friday, 20 October 2017 and Thursday, 9 November 2017.

Action Items

Finance to distribute details of the calculation of ECG representatives proportional to party staff numbers
Ms Goodrick to send draft amendments to ToR to Finance for distribution
Finance to distributeamended EAP guideline
Finance to look at promotion ofEAP manager assist service
Ms Goodrick to send draft amendments to four EA guidelines to Finance for distribution
Finance to investigate if changes are needed to the Final Entitlements Estimator regarding IFAs
Finance to contact IPEA regarding the Cabcharge fact sheet
Finance to approach IPEA and DPS to attend the next meeting.

Members of Parliament StaffEnterprise Agreement | Employee Consultative Group | Meeting: 8 September 2017

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