Fed: National workplace laws could water down protections

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2009
Fed: National workplace laws could water down protections

CANBERRA, Dec 14 AAP - The federal government's national industrial relations laws
could actually reduce protections for workers, the ACTU warns.

All Labor-held states have referred their industrial relations powers to the commonwealth,
with Liberal-National controlled Western Australia the only state refusing to participate
in the new national Fair Work system.

Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard says it is good news for business, but ACTU
secretary Jeff Lawrence says the reform package will water down strong state-specific
protections, such as those provided for in NSW.

"I would have thought that a combination of a federal Labor government and state Labor
governments would have had an objective of improvement of workers health and safety,"

he told ABC Radio on Monday.

Ms Gillard refused to back away from the new policy.

"Safe Work Australia can of course deal with technical issues, but the policy decisions
have all been made," she said.

AAP bsb/rl/it

KEYWORD: WORKPLACE

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.