Government starts talks on workplace laws review

The government has quietly begun consulting on the Productivity Commission’s review of the workplace relations inquiry.

Michaelia Cash.

The Turnbull Government has quietly begun consulting on the Productivity Commission’s sweeping review of the workplace relations inquiry as it prepares its response to calls for widespread industrial relations reform.

The Australian understands Employment Minister Michaelia Cash hosted the first of three round table discussions today on the proposals arising from a 12-month review of the industrial relations framework by its main economic advisory body, with tomorrow’s consultation taking place with Department of Employment officials in Canberra.

However the stakeholder meetings are likely to signal the nail in the coffin for any government-sponsored changes to penalty rates as demanded by business, with no consultation planned to consider overhauling penalty rates — as proposed in the inquiry’s final report.

Industry has called for a “very substantive” overhaul of the Fair Work regime in response to the Commission’s report, released by the Government in December.

One session planned for tomorrow’s roundtable branded “ensuring a future focused workplace relations system”, ponders the question: “Is the workplace relations framework suitable for employers and workers in the 21st century economy?”

The agenda for tomorrow’s three-hour consultation with the Department also focuses heavily on providing incentives for long-term unemployed, youth, vulnerable workers and increasing women’s workforce participation.

Today’s consultation in Canberra was dedicated solely to focusing on improving female workforce participation.

A spokesman for the Minister confirmed there was nothing specific on the agenda with employers or unions addressing the Commission’s key proposal to align weekend Saturday and Sunday pay.

The Coalition’s position was that penalty rates were “a matter for the Fair Work Commission”, the spokesman said.

Union representatives invited to the third roundtable in Perth next week as part of the National Workplace Relations Consultative Council could yet decide to raise the issue.

The Productivity Commission review, which recommended that hospitality and retail workers should be subject to one weekend penalty rate, also proposed a new form of industrial agreement and proposed more powerful methods for businesses to head off industrial action by workers.

But the review took a “repair” and not a “replacement” mentality to the Fair Work regime introduced by Labor, eschewing a call for fundamental industrial relations reform.

Unveiling the report in December, Senator Cash said public consultation would form the basis for the government’s response — and Coalition industrial relations policy ahead of this year’s election as a change to canvass “fair and sensible changes to the workplace relations framework in Australia”.

Urging the public not to “rush to judge the Productivity Commission report and call for measures to be immediately rejected or accepted”, Senator instead flagged the round tables as a means of having a “conversation with the Australian people to ensure that the system that we have works for the benefit of all Australians”.