creating federal body to set wages – FAIR PAY COMMISSION

removing state industrial relations systems to settle industrial disputes

changing enterprise bargaining

excluding businesses with fewer than 100 employees from unfair dismissal laws

6 month probation for new employees

Cardinal Pell is concerned that “minimum wages could be pushed lower in real terms”.  “The disparity between rich and poor is of some concern, but it is different if the minimum wage is still rising.”

Bishop Pat Power of Canberra raises questions about whether workers would have certainty that they “cannot be dismissed arbitrarily and without due process”  

Bishop Manning defends the church’s teaching of labour over capital.  “Our economic system should serve the human person, rather than treating people as disposable factors of production.”

Bishop Manning also says “the test of workplace relations is whether or not ordinary workers have safe and healthy work conditions, wages sufficient to support their families.”

employee rights could be undermined

employees could have less freedom of choice

right to collective bargaining threatened

labour laws corporatised

high court to determine whether govt has power to enact national industrial law (section 53 – Australian constitution)

possible conflict of interest if labour laws come under corporation law

safety net compromised

award system diminished

no viable alternative for establishing minimum standards

wage inequality increased

growing income inequality

less protection for low-paid workers

job security weakened

high levels of casual work

casual workers - less protection of conditions

unfair dismissal

exemption for companies no guarantee of new jobs