"The critical issue is to make sure we don't interfere with the good work unions do,"Senator Patrick toldThe Sydney Morning Herald andThe Age.
Mr Porter,the Morrison government's Industrial Relations Minister,indicated earlier this month that hemay agree to sacrifice his ministerial power to apply for deregistration or disqualification - as requested by Senator Patrick - if it will enable the government to pass the bill.
Senator Patrick said the further changes sought on Monday included amending the bill,which is subject to a Senate inquiry due to report in October,to ensure that the Federal Court will have a discretion to"consider the gravity of the offence"behind an application to deregister a union or disqualify an official.
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"I am also seeking to narrow the range of offences that could give rise to a disqualification or deregistration so that'paperwork misdemeanors'can't result in such actions,"he said.
He said last week's Senate hearings had brought"additional information"to his attention that called for further changes to the bill.
Union leaders and legal experts gave evidence at the hearings in Canberra and Brisbane that the bill as currently drafted would enable deregistration to be pursued over minor infringements of the Fair Work Act,such as mistakes in filling out paperwork.