Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie does not support the position taken by her Centre Alliance colleague Senator Stirling Griff on the federal government's controversial industrial relations legislation package that passed through the Senate on Thursday 18 March.

The Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia’s Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2020 was pulled apart schedule by schedule in the Senate.

Only one part of the proposed bill was passed, that making it easier for casual workers to translate to permanent employment. The government removed the provision for penalising wage theft, despite having the numbers to pass it.

"My colleague and I had agreed that we would only support two parts of the omnibus Bill and only if both the business community and the unions were in agreement," Rebekha says.

"Those parts related to the definition of casual workers and harsher penalties for wage theft.

"We supported the amendments proposed and agreed upon by the ACTU and COSBOA (Council of Small Business Organisations Australia).

"Those amendments did not pass and consequently Stirling voted in a manner that I do not support.

"I simply cannot support any IR reform that is not supported by both COSBOA and the unions.

"I cannot support a package that doesn't include wage theft provisions for workers.

"Where this landed is totally unacceptable. The government's decision not to support an agreement by COSBOA and the unions was completely wrong so I categorically will not be supporting an amended Bill in my chamber."