SHADOW MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE
DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE
SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
MEDIA RELEASE
27 November 2022
DEAL TO PASS IR LAWS WILL LEAVE AUSTRALIA’S ECONOMY EXPOSED
The so-called deal with independent Senator David Pocock to pass Labor’s radical industrial relations legislation does nothing to change the fundamental fact this is a terrible Bill that will set Australia’s workplace relations system back decades to the dark days of the 1970s and 80s.
“This deal hands the Australian economy over to the Labor Government’s union paymasters,’’ Senator Cash said.
“The Australian economy remains exposed to the potential forindustry-wide and multi-sector strikes,’’ she said.
“Our most important revenue generating mining and resources sector is particularly exposed. The Government and Mr Pocock have not listened to the mining industry at all,’’ Senator Cash said.
“In fact they have not listened to the united voice of the business community, small, medium and large which has condemned this legislation and warned it will lead to more strikes and job losses,’’ she said.
“Unfortunately these minor amendments will do nothing to allay the concerns of small and family businesses across Australia,” Senator Cash said.
Many small businesses can still be forced to bargain against their will as part of the supported bargaining stream.
Businesses with more than 20 staff will be able to dragged onto multi-employer agreements with their much larger competitors.
“The Government’s own modelling shows that small and medium businesses will have to pay between $14,000 and $80,000 in bargaining costs as a result of these changes,” Senator Cash said.
“This is little more than a bargaining tax imposed on small and medium businesses,” she said.
Senator Cash said these changes will result in more strikes, put pressure on supply chains and could see an increase in the prices of everyday items.
“The Government has said this legislation is all about increasing wages – this will be the test. If we do not see a substantial increase in real wages over the coming years, these changes will have failed,’’ Senator Cash said.
“The Government will also be held to their promise that this legislation will lead to lower unemployment and higher productivity,” she said.
“And the final test will be the level of strike action and chaos caused to Australian businesses,’’ she said.
ENDS
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