Preface to Labor and Democrats minority reports

The need to review the impact of the current Workplace Relations Act, as a major part of the Terms of Reference of this Inquiry, was agreed by all members of the Committee. It is therefore unfortunate that many important issues were not adequately canvassed in the Majority Report.

Labor and Democrat Senators agree that a number of matters need close consideration in the context of the operations of the current act. These include that;

• industrial relations law should include a social justice agenda.
• all workers need to be covered by an industrial instrument.
• Australia meets its international obligations.
• the industrial relations system should be focussed on the prevention and settlement of disputes through negotiation in the first instance.
• the ability of workers to be able to balance their work and family lives must be promoted.
• the needs of workers vulnerable to discrimination are adequately protected.
• adequate standards for Victorian workers are provided.
• there is a strong and independent industrial relations commission.

The Labor Senator’s report, in its nature and length, attempts to address these issues so that the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference and the depth of evidence provided is more fully reflected.

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