THE HON TIM WILSON MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS & EMPLOYMENT
SHADOW MINISTER FOR SMALL BUSINESS
MEMBER FOR GOLDSTEIN

‍

SENATOR DAVE SHARMA
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES & TREASURY
SENATOR FOR NSW

‍

‍

The desperate efforts of Federal Workplace Relations Minister, Amanda Rishworth, to avoiding being questioned about the unfolding CFMEU corruption crisis has meant hospital patients and charities are now being put at risk and don’t know whether fixed-term contract exemptions under the Fair Work Act will be extended at the end of this month.

‍

The Coalition has today called on Minister Rishworth to come out of her crisis bunker and urgently clarify if she plans for the looming expiry of fixed-term contract exceptions under the Fair Work Act to be extended.

‍

Currently, sectors such as charities and not-for-profits, higher education, medical and health research, community sport organisations and public hospitals are relying on fixed-term contract exemptions due to expire on 1 November 2025.

‍

Shadow Minister for Small Business, Industrial Relations and Employment, Tim Wilson said the Minister is leaving thousands of workers and employers facing uncertainty because she won’t front up and do her job.

‍

“Minister Rishworth has largely been known for her rush jobs in this Parliament, but since we learned about the Mick Gatto-Zach Smith-John Setka triangle she’s been hiding in her crisis bunker and she hasn’t been sighted,” Mr Wilson said.

‍

“As things stand Rishworth is putting Gatto-Smith-Setka before the likes of community sporting organisations and even patients receiving treatment in hospitals to evade responsibility.”

‍

“This isn’t just about contracts—it’s about livelihoods, research breakthroughs, and the health and education services Australians depend on”.

‍

Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury Senator Dave Sharma called on the Albanese Government to extend the fixed-term contracting exemption.

‍

“In the charities sector, they’re delivering uncertainty, fewer services, and perverse incentives,” said Senator Sharma.

‍

“The temporary exemption must be extended beyond 1 November 2025 to avoid a cliff-edge that will disrupt services over the Christmas period, and kept in place until a permanent, fit-for-purpose solution is developed.

‍

“This policy was designed for stable, recurrent revenue streams, not the reality of grants-based, short-term funding that defines much of the charities sector.

‍

“When funding is year-to-year, forcing permanency won’t create job security, it’ll create service insecurity.”

‍

Senator Sharma also said the Government must work with the sector on a permanent model that reflects the reality of funding, while maintaining appropriate safeguards for long-tenured employees.

‍

“If Labor lets this exemption lapse, the result will be fewer outreach workers, fewer counsellors, fewer programs in regional and suburban communities,” Senator Sharma said.

‍

“If Labor don’t fix this, Australians will pay the price.”

‍

ENDS

‍