Carpenter, Omodei sound states' rights alarm on IR decision
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Premier Alan Carpenter and Opposition Leader Paul Omodei have condemned today's High Court decision to uphold the federal government's ability to overturn state industrial relations regimes.
The 5-2 decision supported the Commonwealth's argument that it could to make laws relating to relationships between an organisation and its actual or prospective employees through its constitutional power to make laws which govern corporations.
Mr Carpenter said the ruling went far beyond the industrial relations issue.
"It brings with it massive implications not only for WA workers and their families, but also for the State and the rights of all Western Australians," he said.
"We remain committed to a sytem that supports working people and their families - provides job security and access to an independent umpire to resolve disputes."
WA Industrial Relations Commission chairman Tony Beech told WA Business News in September that the WA industial relations system continued to apply to persons who were or were involved in sole traders, partnerships, trusts and non-trading corporations (except trading, financial or foreign corporations).
This equates to around 40 per cent of the Western Australian workforce.
"We now face the very real prospect of the Howard Government pursuing its own agenda over WA - regardless of the interests of the WA community," Mr Carpenter said.
Mr Omodei, commenting soon after the decision was made, said that while the State opposition supported the Federal Government's new IR laws, it opposed the creation of a national industrial relations system.
"Industrial relations has traditionally been a responsibility of the States and moving to a single system will deny Western Australian businesses choice and flexibility," Mr Omodei said.
"The WA Liberal Party considers these areas as the responsibilities of the State, and will vigorously fight any attempt by a Federal Government to intrude in these areas, regardless of political persuasion," he said.