Work laws: nothing is safe. - James Massola, Political Correspondent, The Age, 7/3/14. The federal governments sweeping review of Australias workplace laws will put penalty rates, pay and conditions, union militancy and flexibility under the microscope. The inquiry means that all the elements of WorkChoices that people hated are back on the table, including individual contracts. **(And the sooner the better. Australia has gone backwards under the FWA stooges and since the destruction of the ABCC. Liebour doesnt want people in work, thats obvious. I am becoming more convinced that they want to see us ruled by, and dependent on, the UN). A leaked draft of the terms of reference for the Productivity Commission inquiry into the Fair Work Act, obtained by Fairfax Media, reveals the inquiry will examine the acts impact on unemployment and under-employment, productivity, business investment and the ability of the labour market to respond to changing economic conditions. The number of working days lost to strike action, pressures on small business, employers flexibility to bargain with their employees on issues such as working hours and the impact of red tape on business will also be considered. The inquiry is framed around the need to maintain fair and equitable pay and conditions for employees, including the maintenance of a relevant safety net, but the broad scope of the inquiry will open the door to warnings from Labor and the union movement that the Abbott government plans to impose a WorkChoices-style system of individual contracts. **(So what? If this creates more jobs, good on him!). The inquiry will be launched amid a growing chorus of criticism from government back-benchers about the impact of penalty rates on business. On Wednesday, Treasurer Joe Hockey refused to directly address penalty rates but said anything we can do to free up the labour market within the framework of what we promised at the last election is going to be a positive step forward. The review was a pre-election promise for the Abbott government and was due to be launched by March 7, but was delayed until after the March 15th state elections in Tasmania and South Australia, and possibly until after the WA Senate election on April 5th, amid fears in the Abbott government it could be used by Labor and the union movement to mount a scare campaign. The terms of reference, which are yet to be finalised and have not been signed off by cabinet, are carefully framed to ensure any recommendations maximise outcomes for Australian employers, employees and the economy, bearing in mind the need to ensure workers are protected, the need for businesses to be able to grow, prosper and employ, and the need to reduce un-necessary and excessive regulation. It comes alongside the governments decision to launch a wide-ranging royal commission into the union movement, re-establish the construction industry watchdog and its attempts to push modest changes to Fair Work laws through the Parliament. The draft says the commission will be asked to report back to government in April 2015. The next federal election is not due to be held until August 2016. Senior officers of the federal and state bureaucracies will hold a phone hook-up next week to discuss the draft terms of reference, which was distributed earlier this week to the states by Employment Minister Eric Abetzs office. Senator Abetz said on Friday that review would be thorough and broad but refused to spell out its scope. Were not in a position to pre-empt whats going to be in the terms of reference other than to say we did promise a comprehensive, broad review of laws, he told ABC radio. ACTU president Ged Kearney said the government appeared to be putting the entire workplace relations system on trial. **(Good!!!). Everything is up for grabs; awards, penalty rates, enterprise bargaining, protection from unfair dismissal. The inquiry means that all the elements of WorkChoices that people hated are back on the table, including individual contracts, she said. It confirms that the Abbott government is determined to weaken the industrial relations system that protects Australian workers and is part of their overall plan to undermine their take-home pay and decent standard of living. So much for Tony Abbotts pre-election promise not to attack workers wages and conditions. **(No, dopey, it confirms that the government is determined to get as many people as possible INTO work!). Opposition workplace spokesman, Brendan OConnor, accused the govt of attempting to ensure its attack on workers pay and conditions is hidden until after the state elections. Tony Abbott knows workers will lose as a result of his Productivity Commission review, thats why details are being kept secret until those elections are run and won. **(Yeah, right. You lefties really are sillier than you look. Name ONE Prime Minister, other than Gillard, who has not had full employment as one of his goals whilst in office? Fools!).
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 08:52:52 +0000
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