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ARTICLE · 18 AUGUST 2015

Although the Productivity Commission draft report endorses the workplace relations system, it recommends major reforms

Corrs Chambers Westgarth
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Perhaps the most far-reaching recommendations in the Productivity Commission Draft Report are those relating to the FWC.

AustraliaStrategy
John Tuck
John Tuck
Nick Le Mare
Nick Le Mare
Anthony Forsyth
Anthony Forsyth
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On 4 August 2015, the Productivity Commission (PC) released its Workplace Relations Framework: Draft Report (PC Draft Report).

The PC inquiry into Australia's workplace relations framework was established by the Abbott Government late last year, and is due to provide a final report by November 2015.

Running to around 1000 pages, the PC Draft Report provides a comprehensive assessment of the operation and effectiveness of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act), as well as the institutions which oversee and implement the legislation.

Perhaps surprisingly, overall the PC Draft Report gives Australia's workplace relations system the 'thumbs up', stating that it is: 'not systemically dysfunctional. Many features work well – or at least well enough ... The key message of this inquiry is that repair, not replacement should be the policy imperative.'

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