Employers call to stop not ‘tinkering’ on industrial relations legislation and make total overhaul

Major employer groups have banded together to call on the Federal Government to dump or delay its industrial relations changes, not satisfied with the concessions made so far. The 11 organisations say the Government has been tinkering at the edges of the mammoth piece of legislation when it needs a total overhaul. Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke has agreed to changes on the provisions around casuals in response to concerns raised by some industries. It would make it clearer that casuals can be employed with a regular pattern of work and remove proposed penalties for accidentally mischaracterising someone’s employment status. The moves were welcomed by the Australian Hotels Association, including its WA branch, and the Pharmacy Guild. But the broader business groups believe the changes are not properly detailed and do not allay other fears about the laws. “What we are seeing now is simply an attempt at trying to patch a sinking boat with a post-it note,” they said in a joint statement on Wednesday. “We are unconvinced that reported changes by the Government will fix what is a fundamentally flawed Bill. “We are yet to see any detail and there remain significant unanswered questions regarding what is reportedly proposed by the Government.” Signatories to the statement are the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Australian Industry Group, the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, Master Builders Australia, the Minerals Council of Australia, the Australian Resources Energy and Employer Association, the National Farmers Federation, the Recruitment, Consulting and Staffing Association, the Restaurant and Catering Industry Association, and Australian Energy Producers. The mammoth omnibus Bill makes changes to rights for casuals to convert to permanent positions, cracks down on the use of labour-hire to undercut pay and conditions, gives gig workers stronger protections, criminalises wage theft and gives unions stronger powers, among other things. Crossbench senators Jacqui Lambie and David Pocock are likely to table their legislation in the Senate next week to split off four less contentious parts of the bill. The business groups are hopeful the attempt to split the legislation will be successful and want the Government to spend more time re-examining its approach on the rest of the changes. “There is insufficient evidence to support such drastic and unwarranted legislative changes,” they said. “Ad hoc amendments will simply add to the complexity, not address it, and will make it harder for businesses to employ workers.” Mr Burke’s office declined to comment on the joint statement. However, the minister said last week that some businesses and groups had been exaggerating the effect of the laws, others were having constructive conversations and still others were never going to agree with the changes.