Printing Industries has called on the Turnbull government to repair what it describes as the 'dysfunctional and partisan' national workplace relations tribunal, the Fair Work Commission (FWC).
Over the next few weeks, Mary Jo Fisher, the PIAA’s director of government relations and a former Liberal senator for South Australia, will travel to Canberra to lobby federal employment minister Michaelia Cash and other ministers on the need for changes to federal workplace regulations.
Fisher says a scathing critique written by outgoing FWC vice-president the Hon Graeme Watson has ‘blown the whistle’ on the commission’s failings.
“Soon-to-be ex commission vice-president, the Hon Graeme Watson, has called out the dysfunctional and partisan way in which the commission goes about its business; the commission’s failure to do its legislated job; and the failure of the Coalition Government to fix the former Rudd Government’s anti-employment and so-called ‘Fair Work Act,’” says Fisher.
In a letter to the federal minister, Watson says…the operation of the workplace relations system is actually undermining the objects of the Fair Work legislation. I do not consider that the system provides a framework for cooperative and productive workplace relations and I do not consider that it promotes economic prosperity or social inclusion. Nor do I consider that it can be described as balanced.
…the combined effect of these provisions is to discourage employment and investment. The workplace relations system is understandably regarded as a ‘danger zone’ for business…There is an increasing understanding in the business community that the Fair Work Commission is partisan, dysfunctional and divided.’
“Watson is spot on,” says Fisher. “The majority of commission members come either with a union or employee-focussed background, or with an ‘appropriate attitude’. Those who come with neither are side-lined.
“The Turnbull government has sat on legislative change recommendations which the Productivity Commission made over a year ago. The government is stirring from slumber and showing signs of consulting with stakeholders. But it needs to up its pace; clearly describe to Senators the problems; and detail the fixes needed.
“Our workplace relations system must be a ‘safe’ zone," Fisher says. "It must give employers the confidence to employ and retain workers. It must give employees confidence in return. The Turnbull Government must act to these ends.”