Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Administration: Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Administration - Inquiry into the secure local jobs Code (2 November 2026, 8:31 am) · Polyfact

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Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Administration: Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Administration - Inquiry into the secure local jobs Code (2 November 2026, 8:31 am)

1 November 2026

Contents updated on 6 Nov 2026

The ASU outlines how the Secure Local Jobs Code operates in ACT community services, highlighting its role as an additional lever for consultation, dispute resolution and psychosocial safety while stressing that job security is primarily driven by adequate, longer-term funding. Discussion covers short funding cycles, administrative burden, indexation settings, sector coverage, wage theft risks, registrar powers and the need for clearer objectives and worker education before the ASU session closes.

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ASU evidence on community sector funding and Code impacts

00:03

Chair: opening, procedure and first question

00:03

Chair–ASU: evidence of improved job security

03:45

Carrick–ASU: funding cycles, admin burden and accountability

05:27

Clay–ASU: funding adequacy, indexation and simpler pathway

09:31

Berry–ASU: sector coverage, wage theft and registrar powers

14:08

ASU wrap-up: objectives, education and closing

17:44

United Workers Union evidence on exploitation, vetting and small‑business pathways

21:55

UWU witnesses: opening, privilege and tendering impacts

21:55

Carrick–UWU and workers: exploitation, objectives and contract dynamics

24:14

Clay–UWU: Fair Work changes versus ACT Code

29:03

Union view on simplified code pathway for small firms

30:42

Wage theft case and preventative role of the Code

32:14

Berry: ongoing compliance, reporting and worker protection

34:04

Milligan: added value of Code vs Federal law

36:26

Registrar powers, stronger auditing and session close

39:49

CFMEU construction evidence on sham contracting, registrar powers and procurement model

59:43

Opening of CFMEU session and scope of evidence

59:43

Sham contracting — Secure Local Jobs Code versus Fair Work Act

01:01:34

Accessibility of rights and behavioural incentives under the Code

01:03:46

Small business exemptions — risks of avoidance structures

01:05:02

Simpler certification pathways and enforcement priorities

01:06:50

Registrar’s role, independence and transparency in procurement

01:07:28

Registrar’s powers, practice and resourcing constraints

01:09:10

Ongoing compliance, reporting duties and Fair Work overlap

01:10:35

Evidence and rationale for the two-gate procurement model

01:13:06

Use of WHS records in Code assessments

01:14:24

CFMEU support for Code versus red-tape reduction blueprint

01:17:32

Session close and question on notice for safety examples

01:20:21

Canberra Business Chamber critique of the Code and preference for contract‑based enforcement

01:21:16

Canberra Business Chamber — case for repealing the Code

01:21:16

Administrative duplication and proving legal compliance up front

01:24:23

Overlap with other laws and limits of the Code against bad actors

01:25:18

Procurement costs, exemptions and market entry barriers

01:26:23

Does the Code streamline tenders or add burden?

01:27:35

Hypothetical repeal — effects on competition and enforcement mechanism

01:28:32

Upfront vetting, prevalence of bad actors and centralised compliance skills

01:30:01

Procurement ACT centralisation and compliance costs

01:32:09

MEP Clay — duplication, enforcement pathways and ACT business costs

01:35:28

Local preference, small-business burden and wage theft jurisdiction

01:40:28

Minister Berry — code as minimum standard and WHS outcomes

01:44:35

Training requirements, competition and WHS enforcement limits

01:49:21

Master Builders ACT evidence on duplication, local industry and alternative safeguards

01:55:23

Chair introduces Master Builders ACT witnesses

01:55:23

Master Builders — case for repealing the Code and reliance on existing regulators

01:59:36

Chair: ACT vs NSW construction competitiveness

02:02:40

Chair: duplication of tender compliance requirements

02:04:15

Ms Carrick: purpose of certification vs existing laws

02:05:27

Regulatory responsibilities: WorkSafe, FWO, OFSC and complaints

02:08:47

Ms Clay: construction cost data and case for the Code

02:12:37

Local procurement outcomes and weighting for ACT businesses

02:15:45

Access to federal IR remedies vs ACT safeguards

02:20:07

Transparency, audits and building the local workforce

02:21:28

Ms Berry: transient workforce data and specialist skills

02:23:18

Non-compliant employers, industry self-regulation and escalation

02:26:11

Value of the Secure Local Jobs Code and need for ongoing checks

02:28:04

Minister and Registrar on Code operation, scope, review and evidence base

02:33:21

Chair: opening and MOU termination

02:33:21

Local contractors and interaction with LIPP

02:37:05

Funding code compliance for community organisations

02:41:02

Review focus on thresholds and audit cost scales

02:45:03

Registrar powers, investigations and interface with other regulators

02:46:17

Scope of Registrar role versus industrial regulators

02:53:53

Ongoing monitoring mechanisms and SLJC team resourcing

02:57:11

Registrar independence and burden on small organisations

03:00:20

Community sector costs and indexation settings

03:04:09

Local content outcomes and overlap with industry participation policy

03:10:34

Scope of the Code and sector coverage criteria

03:15:15

Government review, transparency, evidence and audit coordination

03:17:59

Added value of certification versus existing regulators

03:25:47

Sanctions data, funding certainty and hearing close

03:30:43

Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Administration: Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Administration - Inquiry into the secure local jobs Code (2 November 2026, 8:31 am)

1 November 2026

Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Administration Mon, 2 Nov 2026 ACT Legislative Assembly

Follow its sittings

00:03 - 01:01

Speaker 2

Are we broadcasting? Excellent, thank you. Well, good morning and welcome to the public hearings of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Administration for its inquiry into the Secure Local Jobs Code. The committee will today hear from representatives from a range of unions, community organisations and industry representatives. The committee will also hear from the Minister for Finance.

Now, the committee wishes to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land which we are meeting on, the Ngunnawal people. We wish to acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region. We would also like to acknowledge and welcome other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may be attending today's event. We'll just run through some housekeeping matters for today. All mobile phones and laptops would be switched off or switched to silent mode, which I will do also.

01:01 - 01:03

Speaker 1

Mine was on for once.

01:03 - 01:36

Speaker 2

And witnesses are to speak one at a time and will need to speak directly into the microphone or your computer for Hansard to be able to hear and transcribe them accurately. Now, this hearing is a legal proceeding of the Assembly and has the same standing and proceedings of the Assembly itself. Therefore, today's evidence attracts parliamentary privilege. The giving of false or misleading evidence is a serious matter and may be regarded as contempt of the Assembly. Now, the hearing is being recorded and transcribed by Hansard, and will be published.

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