How Labor changed workplace laws and what the Coalition wants to change backBy political reporter Nicole HegartyTopic:Industrial Relations14m ago14 minutes agoThu 1 May 2025 at 2:09amIn an election race fought on cost of living, wages, unions and business are key parts of the equation. (ABC News: Pete Garnish)abc.net.au/news/industrial-relations-changes-federal-election/105235812Link copiedShareShare articleEven before the Coalition performed a spectacular mid-campaign dismount from its plan to force federal public servants back into the office, industrial relations was shaping up as an election issue.In a race fought on cost of living, wages, unions and business are key parts of the equation.But the ill-fated work from home plan — ditched by Coalition Leader Peter Dutton due to voter attachment to flexible work arrangements — has sucked up much of the campaign's industrial relations oxygen.Despite quarantining the measure to public servants, and later to only those living in Canberra, the damage in key electorates was enough to force a backdown.Stay updated:Federal election live updates: Get the latest news from the campaign trailCatch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on ABC iview and ABC ListenAnd although Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's catch phrase "real wages have gone up for five quarters" has been rolled out at every opportunity, other industrial relations reforms have not often taken centre stage.The government did clock up a series of wins over its first term on industrial relations, from multi-employer bargaining to enshrining a right for workers to disconnect.Fiercely fought by the Coalition in parliament, it's now clear the party only plans to unwind some of them.Here's the changes that you might not have heard of during the campaign:Multi-employer bargainingSame Job, Same PayRight to disconnectCasual definitionA family photo and souring relationsMonths into Labor's first term, business leaders and unions stood side by side in a rare media event following a two-day Jobs and Skills summit at Parliament House.The happy family imagery didn't last long though, as the government set about pursuing its reform agenda.The first day of the jobs and skills summit in September 2022. (ABC News: Luke Stephenson)On Labor's list: abolishing the Australian Building and Construction commission, enabling groups of employees within a similar workplace to band together on enterprise bargaining agreements, allowing contractors to ask for the same wages as employees, changing the definition of a casual worker and enshrining employees' right to refuse unreasonable contact after hours by their bosses.Business groups railed against these policy changes.Adding fuel to existing tensions, allegations surfaced that the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union's (CFMEU) construction and general division had been infiltrated by underworld and bikie figures and was rife with intimidation and bullying.Under pressure, the government forced the division into administration last year, a decision the CFMEU is currently appealing in the High Court.Labor was criticised, with the Coalition seeking to emphasise links between the party and union, including donations to campaigns.Read more about the federal election:Strange 'ballot-fellows' revealed on parties' how-to-vote cardsHow the Greens rebranded from environmental activists to the 'party of renters'The key election promises from Labor and the CoalitionWant even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 federal election coverageThis relationship soured as a result of the government's actions, with some union members mounting a campaign against Labor and vowing not to support the party at this election.The Liberal Party has argued that if the ABCC hadn't been abolished by Labor it would have been able to clean up the union.But Labor points to the existence of the body at the time the alleged offending occurred.In the dying days of the term, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton vowed to bring in US-style racketeering laws that would allow police to target the leaders of groups that engage in a pattern of criminal behaviour, even if they personally distance themselves from members' crimes.He's also promised to deregister the union, something Labor says would allow the CFMEU to operate without regulation.Multi-employer bargainingOne major area of contention was the extension of multi-employer bargaining, introduced under the Secure Jobs, Better Pay legislation which passed parliament in December 2022.The most controversial element is single-interest bargaining.It allows two or more employers with common interests to be covered by the same enterprise agreement, subject to approval by the Fair Work Commission.The Coalition has repeatedly attacked multi-employer bargaining. (AAP: Mick Tsikas)Shadow Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Michaelia Cash has repeatedly attacked multi-employer bargaining, claiming in 2022 that it had the potential to "take us back to the dark ages, to close down parts of the economy". In September, Minerals Council chief executive Tania Constable told a parliamentary dinner the government's changes were bringing conflict to "every workplace and industry".The prime minister and opposition leader were in the audience."We need the government to explain why it is so determined to tear up successful workplace arrangements and drag us back to the failed ways of the past," she said.There have now been 21 approvals for single interest bargaining.Same Job, Same PayAnother of the more politically controversial changes in Labor's term was what's known as Same Job, Same Pay — where contractors are legally entitled to be paid the same amount as direct employees.Disproportionately impacting the mining sector, companies argued it undermined their structure and posed challenges to their business model.Coalition promise to keep Same Job Same Pay questioned by unionsPhoto shows a male politician wearing a suit walks with a group of people through a factoryUnions question the Coalition's pledge to keep Same Job Same Pay laws after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton promised not to repeal them.Qantas has also been outspoken against this change, suggesting it would result in job cuts and price hikes.Labor argues the change addresses a loophole which saw labour hire workers paid less for doing the same job.But despite Senator Cash describing the laws as an attack on the Labour hire industry, the Coalition ultimately pledged not to repeal them.The Coalition did so to avoid attacks from Labor that the opposition does not stand for higher wages — potentially devastating during an election dominated by cost of living.Right to DisconnectIn a world where smart phones are entwined in people's lives, and employees can be contacted anywhere, anytime, the government moved to limit the workplace bleeding into personal time.Initially put forward by the Greens, Labor agreed to introduce the Right to Disconnect in order to secure passage of broader reforms.Employment Relations Minister Murray Watt (ABC News: Matt Roberts)The change does not prevent employers from contacting their workers outside of work.Rather, it gives employees the right to refuse to monitor and respond to contact, unless doing so is unreasonable.Mr Dutton swiftly said he would remove the right if he forms government, with the Coalition labelling the change confusing and placing an added burden on employers.Casual definitionThe Albanese government also amended the definition of a casual employee under the Fair Work Act.It's highly technical but put simply (as much as it can be) the change means additional factors are considered when deciding if someone is casual.It also makes it easier for casual employees to transition to permanent roles.Mr Dutton used his 2024 budget reply speech to commit to return the definition to its previous version, vowing to "simplify the situation" so that "business and employees can have certainty".Business, the opposition and the teal independents have also argued for changes to the small business definition, increasing the maximum number of employees from 15 to 25. That would mean businesses at the larger end of that scale who are now subject to unfair dismissal laws would become exempt in some circumstances.The government has said it will consider the findings of an ongoing Fair Work Ombudsman review.Election footingThe government has been reminding voters of its wins in industrial relations for months, while notably not ruling out further changes in a second term.Top of the list: a $143 per week increase for minimum wage workers and a 27 per cent increase in enterprise agreement bargaining."Flight attendants, coalminers, meatworkers are all earning more, and, at the same time, the days lost to industrial action have fallen by 63 per cent," former Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke told parliament earlier this year."There are more than a million new jobs, with more than half of them full time."On the other hand, the opposition has been far more cautious, choosing not to make too much noise about its plans for fear of reminding voters of the controversial Work Choices policy ahead of the 2007 election.Work Choices extended the coverage of the federal industrial relations system. It also made a raft of other changes, including amending the process for adjusting minimum wages, made conciliation voluntary, removed the requirement for workplace agreements to pass a "no disadvantage test" and required unions and employees to get authorisation before taking industrial action.They've also tried to balance their pro-business language in the context of an election where cost of living is a key issue.But throughout the term the opposition and business have heralded the changes a risk to productivity.That criticism received a blow earlier this year, with an independent review of industrial relations policy casting doubt on claims it dampened productivity.Business and industry were unconvinced by the review.While the Coalition is yet to definitively state its plans for multi-employer bargaining, the Opposition has shared the concerns of business and industry, while their comments have pointed to change.The Business Council of Australia has pushed for a firm commitment to scrap multi-employer bargaining alongside same job, same pay.And the Coalition has suggested all industrial relations laws would be reviewed if it wins on May 3.Loading...Having trouble seeing this form? Try this link.Posted 14m ago14 minutes agoThu 1 May 2025 at 2:09amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesDutton hints at Coalition campaign failure as polls show Albanese majority in sightTopic:Government and PoliticsPhoto shows Peter Dutton election shadowsThe strange 'ballot-fellows' revealed on parties' how-to-vote cardsTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows green how to vote cards in the background with a text box that says enter your suburbSurprise could lurk for Labor if enough voters vent anger over cost of livingDAnalysis by David SpeersPhoto shows Anthony Albanese NPC for Speers ColumnJacinta Nampijinpa Price contradicts Peter Dutton, asserting Coalition will end school 'indoctrination'Topic:Public SchoolsPhoto shows Jacinta Price speaks while Dutton stands behind her listening. 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