In a week's time the federal Coalition will have been in government for six years after having won three elections in a row.

For all the worthwhile things it has done over those years – and has tried to do but failed – industrial relations is one of the big policy areas the Coalition has been afraid to touch. Australia's industrial relations system in 2019 is, to all intents and purposes, identical to the one created by Labor with its introduction of the Fair Work Act 10 years ago.