The Federal Government has recently announced a review of Australia’s industrial relations system with a goal to create jobs and lift the economy in the post-pandemic recovery phase.
Parties to the reforms, employer groups, unions, industry representative and community groups are expected to come to the table willing to reach a consensus. The Attorney General, Christian Porter is leading the discussion and is expecting all sides of the debate ‘lay down their arms’ and commit to working together to find ways to ‘urgently regrow’ jobs to assist the many Australians who lost work as a result of the coronavirus.
It is important that the parties on both sides are open to change as the Government has indicated it will persist with industrial relations changes even if the unions and employers are unable to reach a consensus on reform.
The Attorney General has created five working groups to consider the following key areas:
Each group will consist of only 15 members from both the employer and employee parties with the South Australian Business Chamber and its members being represented by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry at all five negotiations.
The Attorney General has set a short timeline as the Government is hopeful committee members will be able to reach a consensus around policy proposals that the Government can then put into action, either by way of legislation, regulation, or via the budgetary process in October.
The South Australian Business Chamber will be surveying businesses via our Survey of Business Expectations in July and will be contacting members directly to ensure the voice of South Australia’s business community is clearly heard in the discussions.
The South Australian Business Chamber members who are currently looking for workplace relations advice can contact our Business Advisory Hotline on (08) 8300 0000 (select option 1).
If you are not a the South Australian Business Chamber Member now is the right time to join. To find out more about The South Australian Business Chamber — three month complimentary membership and the great benefits call (08) 8300 0000 and become a member before 30 June 2020.
No problem is too big or too small and our Senior Consultants are also on standby to provide you with workplace advice. Call today on (08) 8300 0000 and speak with one of our highly experienced Senior consultants.
If members wish to voice a concern regarding changes you would like to see in the workplace relations system, please email policy@business-sa.com or phone Estha van der Linden on (08) 8300 000.
