ARTICLE · 03 APRIL 2008

IR Reform - Modernising Awards

DLA Piper Australia

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Much of the attention on the first phase of the new Government’s IR reforms set out in the Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Bill 2008 (Bill) has been on the abolition of Australian Workplace Agreements.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Brendan Charles

John Tuck

Much of the attention on the first phase of the new Government's IR reforms set out in the Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Bill 2008 (Bill) has been on the abolition of Australian Workplace Agreements. But this is not the only significant development. The government's direction to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to modernise awards is sure to become a matter of great interest to all employers.

Why? Because awards will regain their pivotal role in Australia's industrial relations system with the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) given the task of creating new 'modern awards' that, in conjunction with the 10 National Employment Standards (NES), will become part of the safety net for employees from 1 January 2010. The Government's policy is that the further reforms will limit the application of modern awards to those earning

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