WorkChoices Bill holds attention

The community has been focussed on the Howard Government's proposed overhaul of industrial law.

"The Government's proposed new workplace laws were only released to the public last Wednesday (2/11/05) and yet submissions close tomorrow (Wednesday 9/11/05) with the Inquiry due to make its final report and be wound up by 22 November."

Sharan Burrow in an ACTU media release noting that 3000 submissions from members of the public had already been lodged to the Senate Inquiry examining the Government's proposed new workplace laws, November 8

"The Howard Government wants the inquiry reduced to a five-day debate between expert panels arguing opposite views...
"The Government has ruled out investigation of secret ballots, termination of bargaining agreements, pattern bargaining, remedies for unprotected industrial activity, sick pay, right of entry, award simplification, freedom of association and civil penalties on union officials."

The Sydney Morning Herald reporting a proposal from Judith Troeth, the chairwoman of the Senate's employment, workplace relations and education legislation committee, November 9

"It won't just lead to higher wages, higher productivity and a better work/family balance, you know. It will also protect us from Islamic militancy. Don't laugh."

Mike Seccombe in the Sydney Morning Herald, November 10

"Howard wants all employees to transfer to agreements and wants interfering third parties such as the AIRC to butt out so workplaces can sort out issues themselves. So why does his legislation bother going through an elaborate process of leaving a shell of the old IR system?
"It is difficult to escape the conclusion it is related to the public message Howard is trying to sell to voters. He is trying to say two manifestly contradictory things at once: nothing much will change because working conditions will be protected; and Australian workplaces must accept change because 'we can't stand still' and be overtaken by economic giants China and India."

Brad Norington in The Weekend Australian, November 5-6

"The Australian Council of Social Services is outraged at a clause in the fine print of the welfare legislation introduced yesterday, which stipulates that people must accept any job even if it is at the minimum wage or face two months without payments.
"Under the current rules, people are only obliged to accept jobs at award wages."

Patricia Karvelas reporting in The Australian, November 10

"The Prime Minister has urged Australians to recognise the demise of the five-day working week in the face of Labor forecasts that the Government's workplace reforms would erode families' work-life balance."

Mark Metherell and Nick O'Malley reporting in the Sydney Morning Herald, November 10

"It is entirely appropriate and necessary that employers have the option of requiring a medical certificate for each day an employee is claiming paid sick leave."

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in a media release November 10 supporting the new standard on sick leave included in the WorkChoices package

"Kim Beazley has made an 'absolute, rolled-gold promise' that a future Labor government would rewrite John Howard's workplace laws from scratch."

Brad Norington reporting in The Australian, November 11

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Last Modified: 17 Nov 2005