The Australian Democrats say that Saturday's Senate vote will decide WorkChoices’ fate and that the Democrats industrial relations plan will turn out to be integral to the future shape of IR in Australia.
"The polls say Labor will win this election because of WorkChoices, but getting rid of it will be much harder than voters think. So the Senate is the key election. Australians need to realise Labor's plan will be opposed by the Coalition in the Senate. Because the Greens are way out on an IR limb, and neither Senators Fielding nor Joyce has the numbers or the plan to produce an acceptable negotiated outcome, the Democrats plan will be crucial," said Senator Andrew Murray, the Democrats Workplace Relations spokesperson.
"WorkChoices is a mess – it’s not efficient, simple or equitable. It’s not a unitary system, it is complex, it is over-regulated, and is far too prescriptive. On both economic and social grounds, it needs drastic revision. An efficient, flexible, accessible and just system is needed, with built-in enforceable checks and balances.
"When the election dust settles, serious minds will turn to solutions. The Democrats IR solution is for a single simpler unitary system which also offers justice, efficiency and balance. Our plan’s key features are:
• a single national system to replace the confusion of the six overlapping state and federal systems
• a single strong independent national Industrial Relations Commission
• a single strong, independent national Workplace Regulator
• a genuine safety net with minimum wages awarded annually; 8 minimum conditions for all workers; and a streamlined award system
• genuinely flexible bargaining - union and non union; collective and individual; enterprise and industry.
"The Greens are promoting themselves for Senate balance of power, but their known record attitudes and policy should make everyone sceptical. The Greens oppose what Labor supports - a unitary system, secondary boycotts, restricted right of entry, very restricted right to strike, restricted awards, the ABCC carrying on, continuing with AWAs under transitional arrangements, and so on.
The Democrats do not oppose these and are broadly on the same page. The Democrats negotiated 176 amendments to pass the 1996 Workplace Relations Act, and have negotiated dozens and dozens of bills. The Democrats can and will negotiate with Labor," Senator Murray concluded. http://www.democrats.org.au/docs/2007/Workplace_ASingleSystem.pdf
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