Labor’s IR reform passes
Albanese says changes will lead to higher wages
CONTENTIOUS reforms to Australia’s workplace relations system have been rubberstamped by parliament, surviving a last-ditch filibuster aimed at delaying the vote until next year.
The government’s industrial relations Bill returned to the Lower House early on Friday morning to tick off amendments made in the Senate.
A short burst of applause and cheers rang out in the House of Representatives after the legislation passed the House 78 votes to 42.
Under the laws, workers in businesses with common interests would be allowed to come together to bargain on an enterprise agreement.
Small businesses with fewer than 20 employees will be excluded and medium-sized businesses with fewer than 50 will have additional safeguards if they wish to opt out of multiemployer bargaining.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese desperately wanted to pass the Bill before Christmas, as he sees it as key to getting wages moving.
During a marathon debate in the Senate, opposition workplace relations spokeswoman Michaelia Cash asked hundreds of questions on the proposed amendments as she sought to filibuster the final vote.
After nine hours of debate and no progress, the government said it was clear the Coalition wanted to “delay … every extra hour they possibly can”.
About 10.30pm on Thursday, the Senate cast its final vote on the Bill.
It passed 35 votes to 31 with support of independent David Pocock and the Greens.
He thanked the minor parties and crossbenchers who supported the Bill and lashed the Coalition for its staunch opposition to changes.
Mr Albanese and employment minister Tony Burke also confirmed the government would tackle further IR reforms in the new year “to close the loopholes that are undermining job security and wage growth”.
The Prime Minister called it a “victory” for the working people and businesses of Australia and said he was proud the Bill had passed on the 50th anniversary of Gough Whitlam’s election win.
“The truth is that this (legislation) will deliver secure jobs and better pay. We stand for it.
We’re proud of it,” he said.
The House of Representatives has been adjourned until February next year. However, the Prime Minister is reportedly prepared to recall parliament before Christmas in an extraordinary move to legislate new regulatory levers and slash energy prices quicker.
In a joint statement, Mr Albanese and Mr Burke said: “After a decade of deliberate wage suppression under the Liberals and Nationals, Australian workers need a pay rise and these new laws will deliver.
“By modernising the bargaining system we will see
more workplace agreements, delivering better productivity and flexibility for employers and better pay and conditions for workers.
“We’re bringing our workplace relations system up to date with a government that wants to get wages moving again.”