THE Turnbull Government is pursuing workplace relations changes that will have some positive outcomes for employers, however AREEA has publicly urged it to think beyond ‘bi-partisan’ small improvements and instead seek transformational reform.

The Fair Work Amendment (Repeal of 4 Yearly Reviews and Other measures) Bill 2017, which is yet to be tabled in parliament but is anticipated for Autumn sittings, is expected to contain a number of measures including:

• Repealing the four-yearly modern award reviews, a move which has been widely advocated by employers and unions in a rare display of unity on workplace relations policy;
• Expanding the powers of the Fair Work Commission to investigate potential misconduct of its members, in what is a clear response to the controversial circumstances involving ex-vice president Michael Lawler; and
• Likely changes to the application of the Notice of Employee Representation Rights (NERR) which, as highlighted by AREEA to the Minister earlier this year and prompting the reform efforts, are resulting in a growing number of agreements being rejected on technical grounds.

While the first two areas of change already have bi-partisan support, it is less clear that Opposition MPs and Senators will support changes to the NERR rules. However, reports indicate Labor’s workplace relations spokesperson Brendan O’Conner is open to the change.

Speaking to The Australian Financial Review about the ‘surprise’ legislation, AREEA chief executive Steve Knott said it ‘makes sense’ for the government to pursue these changes given they are uncontroversial and have the support of both employers and unions.

However, Mr Knott said it was disappointing the government is yet to outline a vision for more ‘transformational reform’, or even respond to well-publicised criticisms of the WR system by outgoing Fair Work Commission Vice President Graeme Watson.

“The concern AREEA has is that our nation is sleepwalking into a recession and recovery would be far quicker if our parliament undertook much-needed fundamental reforms now rather than wait until further deterioration in our economic and unemployment circumstances forces a reactive response,” Mr Knott continued.

“Unlike the Productivity Commission, we need to be asking tough questions about our workplace relations system. For instance, why we are the only country with layers upon layers of employment-related regulation, including the oxymoronic ‘modern’ awards system. We should be asking why unemployment is higher and real wages growth lower today than what it was following the deregulation efforts of Keating and Howard that added more flexibility into our labour market.

“We are operating in a workplace relations system built on Labor and the unions’ ideological agenda and not fit for a modern, competitive economy. Nobody in the parliament, including conservative members of the Liberal and National parties, appears to have the appetite to address this significant national problem.”

AREEA will keep our members informed of the progress of these latest proposed amendments to the Fair Work Act as well as all other workplace relations policy developments. To learn more or get involved in our campaign for fundamental change, contact [email protected] or call 1800 627 771.