Howard Government agenda projections
Printing Industries has compiled a list of likely policy directions that will affect industry companies. These focus on employee / industrial relations and industry development. Industrial relations will be a major area of focus since many previous reform Bills were rejected by the Senate.
- Workplace Relations Amendment (Fair Dismissal) Bill 2004 –
This reform will provide an exemption for small business with less than 20 employees from claims of unfair dismissal. The immediate impact of this reform will be to provide relief to small business that previously had access to the jurisdiction of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.
Employees will still be able to claim unfair dismissal where they access to state industrial tribunals, however, the Commonwealth Government is also seeking to ultimately provide a national unitary unfair dismissal system.
- Workplace Relations Amendment (Protecting Small Business) Bill 2004 –
Providing exemptions for small business companies with less than 15 employees from redundancy payments.
- Workplace Relations Amendment (Secret Ballots for Protected Action) Bill 2002 –
This Bill requires unions to hold a secret ballot of members before seeking authorisation to take industrial action.
- Workplace Relations Amendment (Award Simplification) Bill 2002 –
This Bill aims to further reduce the number of allowable award matters by reducing the overlap of entitlements such as long service leave.
In addition to the Bills, the Coalition Workplace Relations pre election policy included a number of areas that the Government will address. The ones likely to affect the printing industry are:
- Independent Contractors Act –
Proposed new legislation will increase the flexibility of independent contractors and prevent unions from imposing limits and restrictions on the use of contractors through orders and awards by the Australian Industrial relations Commission.
- Mediation –
Introduction of a dispute resolution process (mediation) for small business employers to address workplace disputes as an alternative to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.
- Occupational Health and Safety Reform –
Implementation of national OH&S standards will reduce the cost and regulatory burden of workplace health and safety. Additionally, a network of OH&S Advisors will be funded to assist small businesses to comply with the relevant occupational health and safety laws.
- Union Right of Entry to Workplaces –
New legislation will be introduced to further tighten the entry of union officials to workplaces.
Several non industrial areas will provide some business benefits and opportunities for more detailed discussion on regulatory issues.
- Environmental Labelling –
The government is willing to discuss the merits of a national approach to environmental labelling. Other environmental initiatives will cover the review of the National Packaging Covenant.
- Industry Development –
It is highly unlikely the government will introduce any new printing industry assistance schemes. Instead its approach will be to encourage companies to use existing programs for innovation and business improvement, eg the Commercial Ready Program.
- Industry Rationalisation –
The government is opposed to exit strategies on the grounds they are to be costly and likely to fail.
- Tariff Concession System –
The Government claims it is committed to removing the 3 per cent tariff as soon as it is economically responsible to do so. Under the Free Trade Agreements signed with the US, Thailand and Singapore, the three per cent tariff will be eliminated on products from those countries.
As more Free Trade Agreements are planned (eg China, Malaysia) it is likely that the revenue the government is earning from the tariff won’t justify the costs either to industry or the collection costs. Concerted industry pressure could succeed in forcing the removal of the tariff entirely and restoration of the Tariff Concession System.
- Training –
The government will: establish 24 Australian Technical Colleges for traditional trades and an Australian Institute for Trade Skill Excellence. New Commonwealth Trade Learning Scholarships will be provided in skill shortage industries. Tool kit funding has been earmarked for up to 34,000 new apprentices each year. Pre-vocational funding for up to 4,500 Australians will be provided over 4 years. Eligibility for Austudy and the Youth Allowance will be extended to those over 25 to New Apprentices from 1 July 2005.
- Exporting –
Export hubs in Regional Australia will be formed to assist firms to take full advantage of the FTA’s. Thirty new export facilitators will be appointed; additional FTA’s will be pursued; the EMDG Scheme will receive an additional $30m over three years.
- Research and Development –
Commercial Ready Program will be funded to $1billion over seven years.
This reform will provide an exemption for small business with less than 20 employees from claims of unfair dismissal. The immediate impact of this reform will be to provide relief to small business that previously had access to the jurisdiction of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.
Employees will still be able to claim unfair dismissal where they access to state industrial tribunals, however, the Commonwealth Government is also seeking to ultimately provide a national unitary unfair dismissal system.
Providing exemptions for small business companies with less than 15 employees from redundancy payments.
This Bill requires unions to hold a secret ballot of members before seeking authorisation to take industrial action.
This Bill aims to further reduce the number of allowable award matters by reducing the overlap of entitlements such as long service leave.
Proposed new legislation will increase the flexibility of independent contractors and prevent unions from imposing limits and restrictions on the use of contractors through orders and awards by the Australian Industrial relations Commission.
Introduction of a dispute resolution process (mediation) for small business employers to address workplace disputes as an alternative to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.
Implementation of national OH&S standards will reduce the cost and regulatory burden of workplace health and safety. Additionally, a network of OH&S Advisors will be funded to assist small businesses to comply with the relevant occupational health and safety laws.
New legislation will be introduced to further tighten the entry of union officials to workplaces.
The government is willing to discuss the merits of a national approach to environmental labelling. Other environmental initiatives will cover the review of the National Packaging Covenant.
It is highly unlikely the government will introduce any new printing industry assistance schemes. Instead its approach will be to encourage companies to use existing programs for innovation and business improvement, eg the Commercial Ready Program.
The government is opposed to exit strategies on the grounds they are to be costly and likely to fail.
The Government claims it is committed to removing the 3 per cent tariff as soon as it is economically responsible to do so. Under the Free Trade Agreements signed with the US, Thailand and Singapore, the three per cent tariff will be eliminated on products from those countries.
As more Free Trade Agreements are planned (eg China, Malaysia) it is likely that the revenue the government is earning from the tariff won’t justify the costs either to industry or the collection costs. Concerted industry pressure could succeed in forcing the removal of the tariff entirely and restoration of the Tariff Concession System.
The government will: establish 24 Australian Technical Colleges for traditional trades and an Australian Institute for Trade Skill Excellence. New Commonwealth Trade Learning Scholarships will be provided in skill shortage industries. Tool kit funding has been earmarked for up to 34,000 new apprentices each year. Pre-vocational funding for up to 4,500 Australians will be provided over 4 years. Eligibility for Austudy and the Youth Allowance will be extended to those over 25 to New Apprentices from 1 July 2005.
Export hubs in Regional Australia will be formed to assist firms to take full advantage of the FTA’s. Thirty new export facilitators will be appointed; additional FTA’s will be pursued; the EMDG Scheme will receive an additional $30m over three years.
Commercial Ready Program will be funded to $1billion over seven years.