Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the Government will shelve contentious "union-busting" laws as a sign of good faith, while pointing towards an overhaul of Australia's industrial relations system.
Key points:
- The Government will not pursue a second vote on its Ensuring Integrity Bill, which was strongly opposed by unions
- Mr Morrison says the current industrial relations system is not fit for purpose
- The Government will hold a number of consultations on the issue ahead of the October Budget
Mr Morrison used a speech to the National Press Club to announce Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter would lead a new process bringing together unions, employer groups and businesses to try to change the current system, which he said was "not fit for purpose".
"It is a system that has, to date, retreated to tribalism, conflict, and ideological posturing," he said.
"No side of that debate has been immune from those maladies."
The Government's most recent attempt to crack down on what it sees at union misconduct has been stuck in the Senate after failing to get crossbench support last year.
Mr Morrison confirmed the Government would not seek to take the bill to a second vote, saying the legislation was being shelved in a sign of "good faith."
The changes would have allowed for applications to be made to the Federal Court to deregister a union or union official if conduct was deemed inappropriate.
"Not pursuing a further vote, though, I hasten to caution on this bill, does not reflect any change or lack of commitment to the principle that lawful behaviour of registered organisations should be strictly required on all work sites in Australia."
Mr Porter will chair five working groups between now and the October Budget to try to reach a consensus with unions and employers on industrial relations.
Changes to form part of JobMaker plan
The Prime Minister said he was heartened by the "constructive" approach unions and employers took during the height of the coronavirus pandemic and that the economic recovery presented an opportunity for major change.
"The extent of the damage wrought by COVID-19 on the Australian economy, and the enormity of the challenge we now face to get Australians back into jobs, means the policy priorities for recovery will be different to those in place before the crisis," he said.
"We now have a shared opportunity to fix systemic problems and to realise gains as a matter of urgency to get more people back into work."
Mr Morrison's announcement drew comparisons with the historic Prices and Incomes Accord struck between former prime minister Bob Hawke and unions in the early 1980s.
"We've booked the room, we've hired the hall, we've got the table ready," the Prime Minister said.
"We need people to get together and sort this stuff out. As I say, they've been caught in grooves for too long, and grooves going in parallel lines and not coming together.
"And that's why I'm hoping this process will achieve. It may succeed. It may fail. But I can assure you, we're going to give it everything we can."
Mr Morrison announced the changes as part of the Government's new JobMaker plan aimed at driving Australia's post-pandemic recovery.
He also unveiled a shake-up of Australia's skills sector, arguing the current system was clunky and unresponsive to demands.
"It is no wonder that when faced with this complexity, many potential students default to the university system, even if their career could be best enhanced through vocational education," he said.
"I want those trade and skills jobs to be aspired to, not looked down upon or seen as a second-best option."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMib2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA1LTI2L3Njb3R0LW1vcnJpc29uLWluZHVzdHJpYWwtcmVsYXRpb25zLWJ1c2luZXNzLXVuaW9ucy1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy8xMjI4NzA3MtIBJ2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMjI4NzA3Mg?oc=5
2020-05-26 04:44:11Z
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