Workplace law review put on hold to push sale of budget

Date
    June 25, 2014


The federal government has put an ambitious review of workplace laws on hold as it spends political capital on selling its unpopular budget and amid fears of a ferocious campaign from Labor and the union movement that is expected to revive the spectre of Workchoices.      

The terms of reference for the Productivity Commission's review of the Fair Work Act - the centrepiece of the government's industrial relations policy at the election - have been all but finalised.

But Prime Minister Tony Abbott's office has intervened to delay the launch of the review until the second half of this year so it can focus on steering the budget through the unco-operative Senate.


Earlier this month, Employment Minister Eric Abetz told a Senate hearing the review terms should be released ''shortly'', but admitted: ''I think I may have said that at the last estimates [in February].''

Senior government sources have confirmed the government is not ready to launch a new political debate over industrial relations.

Business groups and Liberal MPs are urging a bold industrial relations policy be adopted before the next election, although senior Coalition insiders believe there is no rush to address the issue yet.
"We know it's coming, it would be really good for it to be in the public arena": Kate Carnell.



With one eye on the 2016 election, the government's political strategists have pencilled in late next year or early 2016 as the report-back date for the review, which will allow the government time to cherry pick the most politically palatable recommendations and take them to the voters.

The review's final terms of reference are expected to contain only minor changes from the draft terms of reference, a copy of which was obtained exclusively by Fairfax Media in March.

That revealed the review would examine workers' pay and conditions, including penalty rates, union militancy and workplace flexibility.

It would also examine the Fair Work Act's impact on unemployment, productivity, business investment and the ability of the labour market to respond to economic conditions.

The launching of the trade union royal commission and the government's desire to pass other workplace law changes, such as restoring the Australian Building and Construction Commission, have also contributed to the delay.

Industry groups are increasingly agitated about the delay. The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Kate Carnell said it had seen the leaked terms of reference and was eager for the review to begin.

''We know it's coming, it would be really good for it to be in the public arena so we can put together the best submission possible,'' she said, adding that ''we keep being told next week''.      

Labor employment spokesman Brendan O'Connor said Mr Abbott was holding back because ''he knows this review means workers will lose and, in the wake of the most unfair budget in living memory, he can't stomach more broken promises''.

ACTU national secretary Dave Oliver said the government had delayed the review because it knew ''the Australian people will reject their toxic views on IR, whenever they eventually decide to be honest about it''.          

Senator Abetz's office declined to comment on Tuesday.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/workplace-law-review-put-on-hold-to-push-sale-of-budget-20140624-3ard0.html#ixzz35as9l2fD

Abbott’s attack on rights, wages and conditions stalls… for now
25 June, 2014 | Media Release By putting the brakes on a wholesale review of workplace laws, the Abbott Government has acknowledged that the same hardworking Australians that will take a hit from their budget changes to health, welfare and education are the same people whose wages and workplace conditions will be in the firing line under this review.

ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver called on the Abbott Government to come clean with its real intentions for workplace reform.

“If Mr Abbott was serious about not attacking rights at work he would drop the whole idea of a Productivity Commission inquiry and withdraw the Bill he currently has in the Parliament to bring back unfair individual contracts,” Mr Oliver said.

“Tony Abbott and his Government know the Australian people will reject their toxic views on industrial relations whenever they eventually decide to be honest about it.

“The terms of reference for this review are a complete repudiation of the Mr Abbott’s pre-election promise to workers that wholesale changes were not on the agenda.

“It’s clear that the Government’s ultimate intention is to put the whole workplace system on trial – pay and conditions, minimum wage, rights at work, collective bargaining and unfair dismissal.

“What we’re seeing at the moment is a Government reeling from the community’s rejection of their unfair budget and assault on the social safety net.

“This isn’t Mr Abbott backtracking on his plans to cut wages and conditions, it’s a short term political calculation to avoid alerting the Australian people that he intends to make life harder for them.”

Mr Oliver suggested that the Abbott Government could adopt a novel approach in its handling of workplace relations policy by actually being honest about the fact that they are 100 per cent committed to delivering workplace reform for the business lobby that will give them the green light to cut wages and conditions.

“Tony Abbott will be fielding calls from his business mates who want him to get moving so they can start cutting wages and conditions,” Mr Oliver said.

“The business lobby has already announced a campaign to cut weekend rates but that’s just the beginning.

“Australian Unions won’t stand by why Mr Abbott and the business lobby attack the Australian way of life.

“We’ll fight so hardworking Australians get a fair go.”

Yes El Gatto right again, and they wonder why people join unions.  Go figure.    

Yes or they can fold, don't join the union, and give the employer total power.  Maybe even bring back slavery.      

Kat wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 7:36am:

greggerypeccary wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 9:37am:



Ah gweg, juvenile cartoons and an attitude that is truly toxic and destructive of workplace harmony and productivity.
You would never work for me

aquascoot wrote on Jun 26^th, 2014 at 9:40am:



Your naivety is adorable.

What about the guy that paid his staff in pizza?.