TASMANIA’S peak employer body, the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) says amendments to the controversial fair work system, pushed through the House of Representatives by the Federal Government this week, are a big disappointment to industry and employment.
“The current dysfunctional parliament has again failed to act as a check on union overreach,” said TCCI Chief Executive Michael Bailey.
“No amendment has been made to the fair work laws that ameliorates significant problems companies or small business experience with these laws, and sadly the handbrake they impose on efficiency, confidence and economic activity continues,” Mr Bailey said.
“It is outrageous that the Government pushed through laws like expanded union right of entry into lunchrooms without bipartisan support even though earlier this week the independent MPs said that only bipartisan changes should be progressed.”
Mr Bailey said the amendments impose extra regulation onto an already unbalanced set of industrial relations laws that largely regulate workplace relations through legislative rules, national tribunals and trade union collectivism.
“The fact they could have been worse, with compulsory arbitration dropped, is not the point.”
New burdens on industry include:
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Right to flexible work arrangements
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Expanded parental leave rights
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Forced consultation on changes to rosters
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Penalty rate principles enshrined in law
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A national bullying jurisdiction
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Expanded union right of entry to lunch rooms and funding union access to remote sites
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Consent arbitration over alleged unlawful dismissals
“After a year of independent review, industry had expected amendments to fix problems this year, but that has not happened.
“The rejection of compulsory arbitration has been wise but the Greens are still pushing that barrow and the risk of more dysfunctional parliamentary chaos has not been averted.
“The situation will be particularly serious for Tasmania, with our strong reliance on small business and this State’s dire need to encourage business and employment growth,” Mr Bailey said.