For the first time in over a decade industrial relations
is a key policy battleground in the federal election.
Much of the space is occupied by the ALP's policy agenda, in
part responding to the ACTU's 'change the rules'
campaign. In particular, Labor has committed to:
- stronger regulation of casual work and labour hire;
- enable the Fair Work Commission to set a 'living
wage';
- provide more scope for industry-level bargaining for low-paid
employees; and
- reverse the FWC's 2017 cuts to penalty rates.
The Coalition Government has had less to say, reinforcing its
commitment to the present framework and in particular the
regulatory checks it has introduced to curb union power. These
include the Registered Organisations Commission, and the Australian
Building and Construction Commission and federal building code.
