Article by Katina Curtis, courtesy of the West Australian.
Major employer groups have ramped up their calls for the Federal Government to dump or delay its controversial industrial relations changes, saying recent concessions do not go far enough.
Eleven organisations banded together to say the Government has been tinkering at the edges of the mammoth piece of legislation when it needs a total overhaul.
Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke has agreed this week to changes on the provisions around casuals in response to concerns raised by some industries. The move would make it clearer that casuals can be employed with a regular pattern of work and remove proposed penalties for accidentally mischaracterising someone’s employment status.
The moves were welcomed by the Australian Hotels Association, including its WA branch, and the Pharmacy Guild.
But the broader business groups believe the changes are not properly detailed and do not allay other fears about the laws.
“What we are seeing now is simply an attempt at trying to patch a sinking boat with a Post-it note,” they said in a joint statement. “We are unconvinced that reported changes by the Government will fix what is a fundamentally flawed Bill.
“We are yet to see any detail and there remain significant unanswered questions regarding what is reportedly proposed by the Government.”
Signatories to the statement are the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Australian Industry Group, the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, Master Builders Australia, the Minerals Council of Australia, the Australian Resources Energy and Employer Association, the National Farmers’ Federation, the Recruitment, Consulting and Staffing Association, the Restaurant and Catering Industry Association and Australian Energy Producers.
