Barnett won't release 'secret' IR plan

Union calls for the release of a report into WA's industrial relations system have failed to make an impact on the state government's decision to hold onto its findings.

Last year the Barnett government commissioned an $850,000 review examining issues such as unfair dismissal and union right of entry.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions said the report delivered 198 recommendations to introduce WorkChoices-style changes that would threaten employment conditions.

Unions WA also look out a full page advertisement in today's West Australian claiming there was a secret plan to reintroduce the laws and claiming 300,000 workers were at risk of having their rights stripped away.

Premier Colin Barnett responded by saying that the report's purpose was simply to look at how best the state government operates a state system that takes into account changes made at a federal level.

"WA is the only state to have retained some part of the IR system. We retain responsibility for public sector employees and also for small businesses that are not incorporated," Premier Barnett told reporters today.

"So it's appropriate we had a review to see how the changes federally, both by the Howard and Rudd governments, affect our administration of industrial relations.

Premier Barnett went on to say that the report was yet to be considered fully by the Cabinet and would not be released until that happens.

"We're simply looking at how we best operate a state system, and indeed how do we include federal principles into the state system.

"There is no agenda here, this is simply an election time stunt by the union movement.

"I want to see a fair balance, there is no desire to go back to the old IR system."