BUSINESS groups are becoming concerned as the new WA Government comes closer to rolling back key legislation introduced by the Court Government.
BUSINESS groups are becoming concerned as the new WA Government comes closer to rolling back key legislation introduced by the Court Government.
Labor promised to remove the Workplace Agreements Act and replace it with a collective bargaining-based regime. It says it will be retaining some form of workplace agreement through Employer Employee Agreements but details on the new workplace agreements changes are sketchy.
A spokesman for Industrial Relations Minister John Kobelke said the EEA legislation had not even been drafted yet.
Indeed, speculation is growing that Labor will not go through with its plan to introduce individual contracts and instead opt for the collective bargaining approach advocated by the Federal Labor Party.
Federal Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott believes the WA Govern-ment will hold off on its new legislation until after the federal election.
Most indicators are pointing towards a December election.
Mr Abbott said that, in order to win the State election, Labor offered to keep some form of workplace agreements.
“Now they are backpedalling,” he said.
“Labor was supposed to put out its industrial relations legislation in May. It’s now nearly the end of June and we still haven’t seen it.”
However, WA unions are not so sure individual contracts will be abolished.
Unions WA secretary Tony Cooke said he was confident the current workplace agreement regime would go but there would still be some form of individual contracts.
“We still have problems facing any form of individual contract but I don’t think we’ll be successful in having them removed,” Mr Cooke said.
“I understand the legislation will be debated in Parliament later this year but I don’t believe it will be held up unduly.”
Businesses also fear Labor will reopen the second gateway in workers’ compensation, increasing access for workers to common law claims.
Builders are concerned Labor’s rollback will give unions more opportunities to enter building sites.
Master Builders Association executive director Michael McLean believes such a move will be the first or second wave of Labor rollback.
However, former Liberal Labour Relations Minister Graham Kierath said it was unlikely Labor would make too many changes to the laws the Coalition Government put in place.
Labor promised to remove the Workplace Agreements Act and replace it with a collective bargaining-based regime. It says it will be retaining some form of workplace agreement through Employer Employee Agreements but details on the new workplace agreements changes are sketchy.
A spokesman for Industrial Relations Minister John Kobelke said the EEA legislation had not even been drafted yet.
Indeed, speculation is growing that Labor will not go through with its plan to introduce individual contracts and instead opt for the collective bargaining approach advocated by the Federal Labor Party.
Federal Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott believes the WA Govern-ment will hold off on its new legislation until after the federal election.
Most indicators are pointing towards a December election.
Mr Abbott said that, in order to win the State election, Labor offered to keep some form of workplace agreements.
“Now they are backpedalling,” he said.
“Labor was supposed to put out its industrial relations legislation in May. It’s now nearly the end of June and we still haven’t seen it.”
However, WA unions are not so sure individual contracts will be abolished.
Unions WA secretary Tony Cooke said he was confident the current workplace agreement regime would go but there would still be some form of individual contracts.
“We still have problems facing any form of individual contract but I don’t think we’ll be successful in having them removed,” Mr Cooke said.
“I understand the legislation will be debated in Parliament later this year but I don’t believe it will be held up unduly.”
Businesses also fear Labor will reopen the second gateway in workers’ compensation, increasing access for workers to common law claims.
Builders are concerned Labor’s rollback will give unions more opportunities to enter building sites.
Master Builders Association executive director Michael McLean believes such a move will be the first or second wave of Labor rollback.
However, former Liberal Labour Relations Minister Graham Kierath said it was unlikely Labor would make too many changes to the laws the Coalition Government put in place.
