Stakeholders urge time for consultation over IR bill

The Albanese government’s biggest test between now and Christmas will be the passage (or not) of its Secure Jobs, Better Pay bill. If the bill is passed, it will create the government’s major economic challenge in 2023. The legislation is currently the subject of an inquiry by the Senate education and employment legislation committee. Starting on Monday, parliament has two sitting weeks before the summer break. The committee has asked for an extension to present its report, which is now due on Tuesday. ACT independent senator David Pocock, whose support would be vital for the government to pass the bill, will want to study that report before making his decision.

Delaying the contentious legislation until next year would be frustrating politically for the government. The depth and breadth of concerns about its potential economic impact, however, show further debate and improvements would be in the economy’s best interests. If a delay improved workplace relations long term and tied future pay rises more closely to productivity, it would ultimately improve Labor’s economic standing and its relationships with business.

Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke’s chances of passing the legislation in the next fortnight and having it accepted by business suffered another blow this week when the Council of Small Business ­Organisations Australia, the business lobby group that controversially joined unions in ­supporting multi-employer bargaining before the jobs and skills summit, backed away from that position. After a reported backlash from members, the council has now declared it did not “advocate for compulsory sector-wide bargaining”. It has also signed a joint statement with other business groups calling for the bill “not to pass parliament” in its ­current form.

Master Grocers Australia has added the voices of its 4000 member stores, which employ more than 120,000 full-time, part-time and casual staff to those of major employers and lobbies such as Qantas, the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Industry Group and the Minerals Council of Australia in raising concerns.

In its submission to the Senate inquiry, MGA recognised the benefits of flexible working arrangements for employees and employers but, concentrating on practical issues, it opposed the bill’s allowing employees to take an employer to the Fair Work Commission if flexible work requests were denied. “MGA prefers employers and employees to operate under the existing system of attempting to reach a mutually acceptable agreement, if possible, without external intervention,’’ its submission reads. Many MGA members run small businesses with lean operations that are time-sensitive, the submission adds, and it is essential for grocers to have the final say when requests for flexible working arrangements are made. Many MGA members regularly receive deliveries of perishable items, for example, which need cold storage at times that are unilaterally decided by suppliers. “To ensure those products are promptly received and stored, it is imperative those businesses can reliably employ staff at ­certain times to avoid spoilage and loss,” the statement argues.

The ACTU wants haste, arguing that the faster the Secure Jobs, Better Pay bill becomes law, “the faster Australian workers will see the benefits’’.

But not unreasonably, given the importance of the legislation and its impact across workplace relations, many other diverse stakeholders have urged the government to allow several more months for detailed consultation.