Bill paves way for national IR system
Australia is one step closer to a national industrial relations system under draft laws the federal government has introduced to parliament.
The legislation aims to end the overlap and duplication of state and federal workplace relations systems that continued to cause inefficiency and uncertainty as well as legal complexity, Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard says.
The Fair Work Act will be amended to provide a mechanism for all states and territories to sign over their industrial relations powers to the commonwealth.
States will be able to terminate their referral if a future amendment to the Fair Work Act is inconsistent with the fundamental workplace relations principles set out in the inter-governmental agreement and the Act.
For instance, it is required that the Fair Work Act should provide for and continue to provide for collective bargaining at the enterprise level with no provision for individual statutory agreements, otherwise known as Australian Workplace Agreements.
Western Australia and New South Wales are the only states that haven’t agreed so far to a referral.
The NSW Labor government has yet to make up its mind while the WA Liberal government has declared it won’t sign up to a national system.
Ms Gillard used the introduction of the draft laws to urge the WA government to reconsider its decision.
Debate on the Fair Work Amendment (State Referrals and other Measures) Bill 2009 was adjourned.