The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has praised a move by crossbench senators to split the Albanese Government’s industrial relations (IR) Bill into multiple pieces to fast track non-contested elements.
ARA CEO Paul Zahra called the move by Senators David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie a win for retailers and urged the government, opposition and broader crossbench to offer their support.
“While this legislation has a range of problematic proposals - not just for retailers but the broader workplace relations landscape – there are a number of sensible, admirable proposals that we support,” Zahra said.
“Splitting this Bill allows for reasonable measures such as family and domestic violence protections, workplace health and safety changes and small business redundancy exemptions to be implemented swiftly, while flawed components of the Bill are sent back to the drawing board.
“Remaining provisions, such as redefining casual work and the proposed reforms to labour hire arrangements threaten to hinder productivity, increase complexity and limit the creation of secure jobs.
Zahra said the four private member bills being moved by Pocock and Lambie are broadly supported by employers and business groups, and is a recommendation made by the ARA last month.
“This is a sensible approach to break through the ongoing stalemate over this legislation.”
Meanwhile, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is calling for the IR Bill (also called Closing Loopholes Bill) to be passed in its entirety.
It said the Bill will introduce many provisions that will get wages moving.
“Jacqui Lambie and David Pocock are acknowledging the importance of some elements of this bill, but every element is urgent and important, especially during a cost-of-living crisis,” ACTU president Michele O’Neil said.
“No worker should be left behind, and splitting the bill leaves behind changes that will make a world of difference to struggling families across Australia right now.”
O’Neil said it’s no surprise big business lobby groups support splitting the bill, claiming they want to avoid giving workers better pay and conditions.
“The companies crying the loudest about these laws are some of Australia’s biggest and most profitable companies – Qantas, and big mining companies such as Gina Rinehart’s, Hancock Prospecting – all who have had massive profits and are paying huge bonuses to their CEOs.
“Big business is always looking at ways to cut corners, and that is why they are exploiting legal loopholes to keep wages low.
“Right now, the most important job for politicians should be to get wages moving in the right direction. We urge them to pass the whole of the Closing Loopholes bill.”
According to The Australian, Lambie and Pocock’s recent push is intended to allow parliament to pass new protections for emergency service workers who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The pair are also calling for measures to stop discrimination against employees who have experienced domestic violence, shifts to small business insolvency laws and to expand assistance for those who suffer from silicosis.
Zahra said the ARA is willing to work with the government and other members of Parliament in consultation on the remaining components of the IR Bill.
“We are enthusiastic about working alongside the government and policymakers to help shape legislation that is beneficial for both employers and employees.”
“If the Bill was passed in its current form, these provisions would drive uncertainty, increase costs, and create a more complex regulatory environment for the industry, without any material uplift in productivity, wages growth or job creation.”