Post by spikeyred on Dec 2, 2007 12:43:17 GMT 10
"The incoming Federal Government says its overhaul of the Coalition's industrial relations laws may not be fully rolled out until the middle of next year.
The Labor Government will split its overhaul of the Coalition's industrial relations laws into two rounds of legislation.
Incoming Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard says the first bill covering the phase-out of Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) will be ready for the opening of Parliament.
But the second round of legislation, including changes to unfair dismissal laws, will take months to draft and may not reach Parliament until the middle of next year.
Ms Gillard says policy decisions connected with the bill to abolish AWAs will go to cabinet before Christmas.
"Anybody who's read our policy plans would know that the transition bill was always going to be about ending Australian Workplace Agreements," she said.
"There of course will be a second substantial piece of legislation which will deliver on the rest of our promises, including our promise to ensure that there is a simple unfair dismissal system."
The Coalition will keep control of the Senate until next July but Ms Gillard has challenged Liberal and Nationals politicians to support the new laws.
"This wasn't a marginal part of the last election campaign, it was a key part of the election campaign, so we'd ask for the will of the Australian people to be honoured," she told Channel Ten.
"We'd also ask the Liberal Party and the National Party, do they stand by award-stripping AWAs? Do they stand by good workers being sacked unfairly?" "
Source: www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/02/2107281.htm
The Labor Government will split its overhaul of the Coalition's industrial relations laws into two rounds of legislation.
Incoming Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard says the first bill covering the phase-out of Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) will be ready for the opening of Parliament.
But the second round of legislation, including changes to unfair dismissal laws, will take months to draft and may not reach Parliament until the middle of next year.
Ms Gillard says policy decisions connected with the bill to abolish AWAs will go to cabinet before Christmas.
"Anybody who's read our policy plans would know that the transition bill was always going to be about ending Australian Workplace Agreements," she said.
"There of course will be a second substantial piece of legislation which will deliver on the rest of our promises, including our promise to ensure that there is a simple unfair dismissal system."
The Coalition will keep control of the Senate until next July but Ms Gillard has challenged Liberal and Nationals politicians to support the new laws.
"This wasn't a marginal part of the last election campaign, it was a key part of the election campaign, so we'd ask for the will of the Australian people to be honoured," she told Channel Ten.
"We'd also ask the Liberal Party and the National Party, do they stand by award-stripping AWAs? Do they stand by good workers being sacked unfairly?" "
Source: www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/02/2107281.htm