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WA Business NewsThursday, April 25, 2013Page : 12Section : NewsEdition : 1st EditionRegion : WA Regional

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NEWSIndustry attacks Gillard IR reforms

Shanna Crispin and Dan Wilkieshanna.cri5pin@businessnews.corn.au

STAUNCH opposition to the Gillard gov-ernment's planned changes to industrialrelations law has continued to flow fromindustry as it seeks to keep unions at a dis-tance and retain employment flexibility.

The Australian Mines and Metals Associ-ation, Chamber of Commerce and Industryof Western Australia. Master Builders Asso-ciation and Australian Industry Grouphave all criticised the Bill released last week- labelling it a "backwards" step which willhurt business, limit productivity andswingthe balance of power in favour of unions.

Among the planned changes to the FairWork Act are reforms to unions' right ofentry to work sites.

Introducing the Bill to Parliament,Minister for Employment and WorkplaceRelations Bill Shorten said changing entryrights would give employers more certaintyand balance the right of employees to berepresented at work.

But the Australian Mines and MetalsAssociation lambasted that claim this weekin its submission to the Senate committeeconsidering the Bill.

Its executive director of industry, ScottBarklamb, said expanding union access toworkplaces was unjustifiable and presentedsignificant risks to productivity, safety andindustrial harmony.

"Imposing greater requirements to openup work sites to unions is a recipe for sig-nificant compliance and safety risks. It willalso encourage increased union militancyand industrial disputation." Mr Barklambsaid.

The sentiment was shared by AustralianIndustry Group, which said the proposal tomake break or meal rooms the default set-ting for meetings impeded on the rights onnon-union members.

"This right needs to be balanced againstthe rights of non-union members to relaxduring their lunch breaks and not be forced

to listen to union officials if they remain inthe lunch room," Ai Group said.

Ai Group chief executive Innes Willoxsaid the content of the Bill was "extremelylopsided" and did not even attempt to strikea b alance in addressing issues of concernto industry.

"Employers' issues of concern are notaddressed in the Bill and the absence of anyattempt at balance is glaring," Mr Willoxsaid in a statement.

Placing restrictions on employers' abilityto change rosters has also drawn criticism,with the Chamber of Commerce and Indus-Cry arguing there were already enoughrestrictions on altering employees' hours. -

"In service-based industries, employersfrequently need to make changes to work-ing hours to accommodate staff absencesand increased demand for services," thechamber said.

The government is also seeking to includenew provisions to address workplace bul-lying - an introduction most respondentshave said would lead to increased operat-ing costs, especially in the small business

sector, and manipulation of the legislation.Master Builders Association chief execu-

tive Wilhelm Harnisch said it would forceemployers to establish new compliance sys-tems or be left open to expensive bullyingcomplaints.

"Implementing new compliance pro-cesses is costly and diverts valuableresources from an employer's core businessof building infrastructure, generating jobsand contributing to the economy." Mr Har-nisch said.

"Without a proper screening process to val-idate potential bullying claims, the Bill willfuel an enormous number of spurious claimsto be heard by the Fair Work Commission.

"There is no disincentive for disgruntledemployees to submit a claim as a measureto garner 'go away' money in the case ofemployment exit."

On the fUpside, there has been verylittle criticism of the government's 'family

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WA Business NewsThursday, April 25, 2013Page : 12Section : NewsEdition : 1st EditionRegion : WA Regional

Page : 2 of 2Circulation : 10898

Area Of Clip : 474.38 sqcmClip ID : 0000001

Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) licensed copy or Copyright Act 1968 (Cwlth) s 48A copy

LINING UP:The general industry consensus is that the planned changes are a backwards step. Photo:jstock

Without a properscreening processto validate potentialbullying claims,the Bill will fuel anenormous number ofspurious claims- Wilhelm Harnisch

friendly" reforms, which include improv-ing entitlements for pregnant workers andextending parental leave from three toeight weeks.

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