What is the latest information on the Governments efforts to protect outworkers in the garment industry?
Ms REBA MEAGHER: The Government is giving consideration to introducing groundbreaking new laws in the next phase of its commitment to minimise the exploitation of clothing outworkers in New South Wales. It has released a draft mandatory code for retailers, which if implemented, will be the first of its kind in Australia. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time. Ms REBA MEAGHER: Under the mandatory code, known as the Ethical Clothing Trades Extended Responsibility Scheme, retailers and suppliers will be required to source clothes only from manufacturers who abide by State award conditions when using outworkers. In addition, it will require them to keep records of their operations, to help authorities hunt down those who exploit outworkers, or face up to $11,000 in fines. New South Wales ranks second behind Victoria as a centre for the textile, clothing and footwear industry, with some 2,000 manufacturing enterprises, mainly in Sydney, w
