Employers hopeful for wide-ranging, meaningful dialogue during review
An independent review of Australia's Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act has commenced to determine the legislation's impact on workplaces.
The review will be led by Emeritus Professor Mark Bray and Professor Alison Preston, and is due to conclude in January 2025.
The Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act is the first tranche of workplace reforms that were introduced by the Albanese government.
Signed in late 2022, the reform sought to promote job security, close the gender pay gap, modernise the workplace bargaining system, and get wages moving.
Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt said all interested stakeholders are encouraged to share their experiences with the legislation.
"I encourage interested parties to share their feedback and engage with the reviewers to provide their perspective on the impact of these significant reforms," Watt said in a statement.
The review is part of the government's commitment to carry out an independent review of its workplace relations reforms within two years.
But employers are hopeful that the review will be "a wide-ranging and meaningful dialogue for improvements."
"This review cannot be just a box-ticking exercise reflecting a set-and-forget approach. We hope this will be a robust and genuine review, regardless of the short time frame and its overlap with the festive season," said Innes Willox, chief executive of the national employer association Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), in a statement.
Willox made the remarks as he slammed the changes as "radical" and implemented in a "disgracefully rushed manner."
"It is crucial that the review genuinely looks at what sensible changes are warranted," he added. "So, we look forward to making a meaningful contribution to this work in the hope that it will help create jobs, not further complexity."
