The Election And Workplace Relations

A looming question for the building and construction industry is, what will happen if the ALP wins the election?

The ALP has said:

• The Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005 will remain in place until 31 January 2010;

• The Australian Building and Construction Commission will also remain until 31 January 2010 - with its current funding in place. Its functions will then be subsumed into a new hybrid body called 'Fair Work Australia' – which will replace the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, the Workplace Authority and other regulatory bodies.

It also appears that – with the exception of abolishing AWAs and starting award simplification – most ALP changes to the workplace relations system will not take effect until 2010 (although there is some uncertainty about this).