Australian Workplace Agreements

Massive public concern over new work law

By ACTU

More than 3000 submissions from members of the public have already been lodged to the Senate Inquiry examining the Government's proposed new workplace laws.

Along with today's Newspoll results, this shows there is massive public concern about the IR changes that cannot be dealt with in the Inquiry's current timeframe of only five days of public hearings says the ACTU.

In Parliament House ACTU President Sharan Burrow said:

"The Government's proposed new workplace laws were only released to the public last Wednesday (2/11/05) and yet submissions close tomorrow (Wednesday 9/11/05) with the Inquiry due to make its final report and be wound up by 22 November.

Nevertheless, concern among the community is so strong that more than 3000 public submissions have been lodged via the special online form available on the ACTU website.

For a live count of the latest number of submissions go to: www.rightsatwork.com.au/campaigns

"Even if it takes just 5 minutes to read each submission from a concerned member of the public, this means each Senator will be reading non-stop, 24 hours a day, for more than ten days to get through them all.

With the Inquiry currently due to finish by 22 November there is clearly not enough time for Senators to do this and the views and concerns of many people will simply be ignored.

It is the height of arrogance for the Prime Minister not to bother to listen to the concerns of working Australians.

These are the biggest and most repressive set of changes to Australia's workplace laws ever.

Many people are very worried about the loss of protection from unfair dismissal not just for people in business with less than 100 employees, but also in larger businesses that downsize for 'operational reasons'.

This is a recipe that could allow unscrupulous employers to unfairly dismiss any existing worker for 'operational reasons' and replace them with cheaper workers employed on AWA individual contracts that cut wages to minimum rates and remove conditions like overtime, public holiday pay and shift penalties."

ACTU LAUNCHES NEW CAMPAIGNING WEBSITE

"The ACTU has unveiled a new website to support its campaign against the Government's new IR laws. The Your Rights at Work website (www.rightsatwork.com.au ) has been completely rebuilt to enable Australians around the country to take action against the IR proposals.

"Everyone I speak to around the country is worried about what will happen to their rights at work under the Howard Government's industrial relations proposals. When the Government's ads came on, it got even worse. Australians want the facts, and they want to know how they could act to protect their rights.

"With our new website it has now much easier for members of the community to fight for what they believe in and make a difference. While the Government is trying to shut down debate on these new laws, we are making it easier for people to have a voice.

The site will be continually updated and will develop further over the next few months," said Sharan Burrow.

© 2001 Community & Public Sector Union - State Public Services Federation (CPSU-SPSF) - National Office

http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/latest_news/general/20051108_submissions.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005