Key changes to workplace laws were announced by federal Employment Minister Eric Abetz on Friday, including union entry rights to worksites and the negotiation of wages and conditions for new resource projects (‘greenfields’) to return them “back to the sensible centre”.
Speaking at the 2013 AMMA Tasmania Conference in Hobart on Friday, Senator Abetz said the Coalition would introduce the laws to parliament early next year.
“We will ensure that union right-of-entry protections are sensible and fair, balancing the need for workers to be represented if they wish with the need for workplaces to run without unnecessary disruption,” Senator Abetz told AMMA members.
“The way that right of entry operates under the Fair Work Act is not balanced and is not based on common sense. When I hear of one project experiencing 200 union visits in just three months it is clear there are issues with the system that need to be addressed.
“Let me be clear: we will stop the lunch-room invasion and we will stop the joy rides for union bosses to offshore sites at company expense.”
The other key area of change outlined referred to ‘greenfield’ agreements – the workplace negotiation process for new projects.
“Unions should not have the power to effectively veto the commencement of new projects or extract exorbitant wages and conditions by refusing to sign up to a greenfields agreement,” the Senator said.
“The current model for greenfields agreements delays construction projects, is bad for jobs, bad for businesses and is bad for the Australian economy.
“We will fix this problem by providing that if negotiations for a greenfields agreement have not been completed within three months then a business will be able to take their proposed agreement to the Fair Work Commission for approval (subject to the ‘Better Off Overall Test’).”
AMMA chief executive Steve Knott welcomed the changes.
“In terms of ‘greenfield’ negotiations – how we regulate work on new projects is critical for jobs and opportunities in this country.”
“What Australia demands of new project investors has been an escalating problem over the past few years and a primary driver of a higher cost, lower productivity and less competitive industry. Fixing the negotiation process for employment on new projects is a key priority in turning this around.
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