Regional leaders raise concerns about lack of consultation during ‘rushed’ industrial relation legislation

Industrial relations reforms, which were passed into law by the Federal Government on Friday, have drawn criticism from community and business leaders in the Great Southern for being “rushed through”. Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson and Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Lisa Smith are concerned small businesses will be affected harshly by Labor’s Secure Jobs, Better Pay bill. Mr Wilson said the legislation “takes us back to the pre Hawke-Keating days of pattern bargaining or industry-wide bargaining” and removed a focus on productivity-driven wage increases. He said had not heard Federal Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke mention productivity in any of his “many, many speeches made to parliament on the particular legislation.” “I think the Government has set us up for this vicious cycle of high inflation, high wage rises not linked to productivity which then leads to higher inflation,” he said. “Without question there has been international events, both the COVID supply chain and the Ukraine war, that have pushed up inflation. “A more measured approach might have been to hold back on wage growth until we see how these international events play out.” The legislation is designed to help deliver on the Federal Government’s election commitment to help drive real wage growth. Under the new rules workers in businesses with common interests would be allowed to band together to bargain on an enterprise agreement. Mr Wilson said multi-employer bargaining agreements included in the legislation had the potential to draw small businesses in the region into industrial relations disputes that have “little relevance”. He said the Great Southern did not have large industries with typically highly unionised workforces, but places like Narrikup’s Fletcher International Abattoir could be “caught up in industrial action that doesn’t necessarily relate to that particular business”. Mr Burke and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese both previously dismissed the concerns, saying opponents of industrial change would always say the sky would fall in. Mr Burke said the changes would benefit the lowest-paid workers, especially those in sectors dominated by women. Small businesses with fewer than 20 employees will be excluded from single-interest multi-enterprise bargaining while those with fewer than 50 will have extra safeguards if they want to opt out of multi-employer bargaining. Mr Wilson also said the “five or six working days” the Senate had to look over the 96 submissions “was nowhere near enough time”. “Even many on the crossbench were very concerned about the unseemly rush,” he said. “Parliament was held back and sat later on Friday because the Government had set themselves this artificial deadline of having the legislation passed before Christmas. “To reach their deadline, which was a political deadline not one from a technical or legal point of view that had to happen, the whole legislation was rushed through and I don’t think — particularly small business — had their opportunity to have their voices heard.” ACCI chief executive Lisa Smith also raised concerns the legislation had been rushed through with “minimal consultation of businesses who will be greatly impacted”. “I encourage businesses to take early action in amending their policies and contracts so they are not caught out,” she said. She said she was concerned by changes to fixed-term contracts being limited to two-years as it would have ramifications for “flexible working arrangements”. “Small businesses, the hospitality industries and government agencies are likely to be tied up in more red tape when employing a workforce, ultimately impeding the agility to respond to the changing conditions” she said. The legislation also includes measures to close the gender pay gap and implements Respect@Work recommendations and the prohibition of pay secrecy conditions in contracts.