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With Labor representing the interests of unions and the Coalition the interests of big business, the Democrats play a crucial part in ensuring that industrial laws are fair to all sides.
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For political reasons the Coalition like to paint themselves as the only reformers in industrial relations.
This is just not true. The Democrats recognised and supported the important advances made by the first wave of the Keating Labor industrial relations reforms in 1993, and supported many of the second wave initiatives in the Howard Coalition reforms of 1996. |
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Long before the federal Coalition got up the courage to call for a single national unitary system for IR, the Democrats were actively campaigning for that policy.
We take the view that there is no evidence that the state of Australian society and economy warranted the further radical change of WorkChoices. That being said, the Democrats are not opposed to IR reform so long as it is moderate, steady, considered and fair; and that it delivers productivity, efficiency, jobs growth and competitive gains that accord with the values and goals of a civilised first-world society - fair and just pay and conditions and treatment. Our record proves this. However WorkChoices went too far and must be moderated.
Our Action Plan
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Restore the essential features of the pre-WorkChoices regime; |
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National Unitary System: Legislate a genuine single national system negotiated with the states and territories; |
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Introduce a National Regulator negotiated with the states and territories, which would absorb the functions of the OWS, OEA and ABCC on a revised basis, and take over state inspectorates; |
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Restore a strong independent but faster and lower cost AIRC; |
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Provide for a genuine safety net, and a mix of statutory individual and collective agreements; |
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Make the AFPC more responsive to mechanisms to improve the disposable income of the working poor; |
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Introduce a definition of employment; |
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Re-introduce unfair dismissal laws with low cost, non-legalistic and prompt resolution of disputes, including a process to weed out vexatious and frivolous claims; |
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Address issues concerning secret ballot provisions; freedom of association; the legitimate role of unions; a fairer balance between work and family; reasonable hours; work of equal value; and a non-discriminatory skills-based wage system. |
WorkChoices needs replacement with fairer Act
In 1996 the Democrats negotiated fair and balanced changes to the Workplace Relations Act, which then contributed materially to our economic success, jobs growth and productivity.
In contrast, the Coalition Government’s WorkChoices Bill has resulted in a national system forced onto resistant states; the individual to be fostered over the collective; individual wage and conditions fostered over family-oriented wage and conditions; disputes going to the courts instead of the tribunals; capital and corporate interests dominating; greater ministerial intervention; and labour and unions’ rights and freedoms being heavily restricted.
The Coalition Governments 2005 WorkChoices legislation took away the fairness and balance. Our aim is to restore that balance.
While not all employees are detrimentally effected by WorkChoices, a large number of workers are, and will have their wages and conditions reduced. Increased exploitation will occur for women, youth, the low skilled, low income earners, those who have English as a second language, people with disabilities, and carers.
Bring back fairness and balance
The Democrats would bring back fairness and balance, while not jeopardising productivity competition and growth, based on the following principles:
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Unitary single national IR System |
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Strong and Independent AIRC |
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A National Regulator |
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Genuine Safety Net |
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Mix of Industrial agreements |
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Fair and Balanced Minimum wage |
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Definition of Employee |
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Protection from unfair dismissals |
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Reform of Secret ballot provisions |
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Freedom of Association |
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Legitimate role of Unions |
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Fairer balance between work and family |
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Reasonable hours |
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Work of equal value |
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Non-discriminatory skills based wage system |
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Protected industrial action |
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