Thank you to Lyndon Stevenson from CTST – Community Transport Services Tasmania for coming to visit me to discuss impending cuts to Equal Remuneration Order supplementation.

An Equal Remuneration Order (ERO) can be made to ensure men and women receive equal pay for work of comparable value. In 2012, Fair Work Australia made an ERO in respect of the Social and Community Services award. The Commonwealth, state and territory governments all increased funding to community services to take account of the increased pay rates under the order.

ERO supplementation in Commonwealth grants is due to cease on 1 July 2021. Unless the Government extends this funding, organisations like CTST will be forced to reduce the services that vulnerable Australians rely on.

I asked questions in Senate Estimates about how community services will be impacted by this cut and I am expecting detailed answers to be provided on notice.