21 October 2005
Australia's leading industrial relations experts will discuss the Government's new national industrial relations system, WorkChoices, at a morning briefing session on Monday 24 October.
The session has been organised by Monash University and the University of Western Australia.
Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Mr Kevin Andrews, director of Workplace Policy at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr Peter Anderson, president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions Ms Sharan Burrow, head of Monash University's Department of Management Professor Julian Teicher and theologian and senior policy analyst at UnitingCare Dr Ann Wansbrough will come head-to-head as they discuss the impact of the proposed changes to the industrial relations system.
Professor Teicher said although the government's advertising campaign featured soothing voiceovers explaining the new system, in reality, the proposed industrial relations changes were the most far-reaching since Federation.
"It's no secret the Government has long-held the desire to dismantle the present industrial relations system," Professor Teicher said.
"It has already begun the process by stealth. The first step began with the creation of the Office of the Employment Advocate, the second step involved the simplification of awards and the Australian Industrial Relations Commission's arbitrarial powers to 20 allowable matters and the third was the establishment of a Fair Pay Commission."
Professor Teicher said the most controversial changes related to the replacement of the Industrial Relations Commission with the Fair Pay Commission. "The AIRC is an independent and impartial body, which is what gives it legitimacy - a legitimacy that a 'Fair Pay Commission' may not achieve, particularly if it is not sufficiently independent of government or has a disproportionate level of members from business or economists from conservative think-tanks."
"The government would do well to reflect upon the achievements of the AIRC and its contributions to economic prosperity and industrial peace before replacing it with a body modeled on an overseas example. At this point, other than pursuing a particular philosophical belief about workplace relations, the Government has not made a robust case for change."
What: 'The new industrial relations agenda' briefing session
When: Monday 24 October, 9 am -- 1 pm
Where: Carillon Room, Sofitel Melbourne, 25 Collins Street, Melbourne.
Bookings: Telephone +61 3 9905 1344 or visit www.conferences.monash.org/industrialrelations.
To arrange interviews call Ms Natasha Whalley, Media Communications on +61 3 9905 9201 or 0437 458 457 or Ms Jacqui Golding, Faculty of Business and Economics on +61 3 9903 2265 or 0438 009 621.
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