Coalition IR reforms to be introduced – making Greenfields Agreements for new business projects

In the last week of February 2014, the Coalition Government is due to introduce a bill to the Parliament that implements the first tranche of its Policy to Improve the Fair Work Laws. The bill includes important reforms to the making of enterprise agreements for new business development and investment projects, particularly relevant to the resources and construction sectors.

Key aspects of the Coalition's reforms and key considerations

The Coalition Government proposes to fix the current impediments to making a Greenfields Agreement, by making the following changes to the Fair Work Act:

• bargaining negotiations for genuine new enterprise agreements will have to be completed by the parties within three months of commencement;