Workplace relations update | 22 July 2022

21 Jul 2022

Consultations on Legislative Change 
The Government is moving rapidly to implement its Secure Australian Jobs Plan policy along with a small number of other changes to workplace relations legislation, such as implementing paid domestic violence leave.

ACCI anticipates a significant, multi-issue amendment Bill being introduced by the end of the parliamentary year, seeking to implement most of Labor’s policy commitments in workplace relations.  ACCI will take a leading role in seeking to shape how changes are implemented and in the passage of amendments, for example by actively participating in any Senate inquiry into the amendments. 

The Minister’s department is moving to consult with ACCI on a wide range of issues, in some cases at short notice. 

We appreciate members understanding and willingness to provide input on an urgent basis via zoom meetings of the ACCI Workplace Policy Committee, and we foresee this process continuing during coming weeks.  

 

Family and Domestic Violence Leave
The Government will next week introduce its legislation to include 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave into the National Employment Standards.

ACCI has been engaged in the pre-legislation consultation process for the implementation of this policy and has indicated employers’ preference for any new legislated entitlement to paid domestic violence leave to align as closely as possible with the provisional view expressed by the Fair Work Commission in the Family and domestic violence leave review 2021 decision.

 

Jobs and Skills Summit
The Federal Government’s Jobs and Skills Summit is scheduled for September 1-2, 2022, with enterprise bargaining and productivity shaping up as the focus of the likely workplace relations dimensions of the Summit discussions.  

ACCI will seek opportunities to advance practical and realistic changes to the rules for enterprise bargaining that can help revive the system that has become unattractive, unrewarding, costly and too unreliable for many employers. Bargaining is increasingly failing to provide sufficient support for productivity improvement, real wage growth, job security and the security and resilience of enterprises. 

ACCI is looking forward to working with the government, unions and other employer groups, to make the bargaining system simpler, more accessible and more reliable.

 

Productivity Commission Inquiry — Carer’s Leave
Following the Royal Commission into Aged Care, the former Treasurer requested the Productivity Commission undertake an inquiry to examine the potential impact of amending the NES to provide for a minimum statutory entitlement to extended unpaid carer’s leave for employees caring for older Australians. 

The Issues Paper was recently released and ACCI intends to make a submission in response. Submissions are due by Friday, August 26, 2022. A summary of the key issues raised in the paper will be provided to the WPC. ACCI has also been invited to participate in preliminary consultation sessions with the PC regarding this matter.







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