Australian Industrial Relations Reforms 2005

The current Howard government has been implementing a new system of workplace relations since the first of its nine years in running this country. In 1996, the Howard government introduced the Workplace Relations Act resulting in wages and working conditions becoming linked to productivity, and were negotiated at an industry or enterprise level, either by unions or individuals. Now nine years later (from the first of July 2005) Howard has the power of the Senate and thus …

…Howard Government believes it will create "More jobs; higher wages; [and] a stronger economy". While the Unions disagree saying "The Howard Government has said it will use its new Senate powers to take away many of your basic rights at work." The full advantages and disadvantages of this reform however, will only be known eighteen months after the legislation is introduced and the labour market is able to understand the full potential of the reform.