Fair Work Changes Needed

"A Pressing Need for Meaninful Targeted changes to Fair Work Laws"

Statement by Peter Anderson, Chief Executive

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Australia‟s largest and most representative business organisation, has called for a significant suite of changes to national workplace regulation in order to support fairness, productivity and competitiveness.

The changes proposed by ACCI are across twelve areas of the fair work system, and outlined in an extensive submission lodged today with the Gillard government‟s three-member Fair Work Act Review Panel.

"On fairness, as well and productivity and competitiveness grounds these changes are absolutely necessary for small and large businesses alike, and the broader economy" said ACCI Chief Executive Peter Anderson.

Major areas of change proposed by ACCI are:
1. Limiting trade union claims triggering mandatory bargaining and the right to strike to wage and condition matters only, not matters of business management
2. A requirement for agreements to be tested against productivity and competitiveness criteria
3. Limiting the right to strike to a last-resort option after bargaining failure
4. A merit-based revision of modern awards to tailor hours and penalty rate structures to contemporary trading conditions
5. Making individual flexibility agreements accessible and workable
6. Making greenfield agreements available to non unionised projects
7. Paring back speculative litigation rights against 'adverse action' by employers
8. Preventing trade union officials having greater immunity from workplace change than the broader workforce
9. Tightening unfair dismissal laws
10.Confining union right of entry to workplaces where unions have members or employees seek union assistance
11.A review of penalties and their application, especially in small business
12.A wage- superannuation trade off, should the mandatory superannuation levy rise from 9% to 12%.

"The case for change to the fair work system is profound, and now widely reported through the experience of businesses large and small."

ACCI‟s submission follows months of intensive feedback and work by the nation‟s employer bodies, including representatives of Chambers of Commerce and Industry Associations meeting today in Melbourne.

"There is a level of unity of purpose and consistency of message coming from the business community and its organisations which has not been seen for many years, and which cannot be ignored by the review panel nor government.

“The business community, including its peak councils, is at one on the core issues requiring workplace reform.”

For further information:
ACCI Chief Executive: Peter Anderson 0417 264 862 ACCI
ACCI Workplace Policy Director: David Gregory 0417 052 390 
ACCI Communications Director: David Turnbull 0419 272 802

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