Fed: Labor IR policy falls short: Howard

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2007
Fed: Labor IR policy falls short: Howard

HERMANNSBURG, NT, Aug 28 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard says Labor's industrial relations
policies "fall short" of what is needed to maintain employment and support small business.

Mr Howard, who is visiting a remote Aboriginal community in central Australia today,
said he was yet to see the details of the measures announced by Opposition Leader Kevin
Rudd and workplace spokeswoman Julia Gillard in Canberra this afternoon.

"(But) I can predict now ... that it will fall a long way short of what is needed,
to maintain the very low levels of unemployment we have at the present time," he told
reporters in Hermmansburg.

"If the reports are to be believed, and I have not seen the detail, then there is no
hope for small business in it because they are going to bring back the unfair dismissal
laws that will produce higher unemployment in the future."

Mr Rudd today outlined the second phase of Labor's IR policy, announcing that Australian
Workplace Agreements (AWAs) would be phased out by the end of 2009.

Labor will also keep strict conditions preventing union bosses barging into workplaces
and remove the award structure for staff on more than $100,000 if it wins government.

The main elements of Labor's new system, including 10 minimum national employment standards,
new simplified awards and the start of Fair Work Australia, will begin on January 1, 2010.

AAP tr/jlw/jt/mn

KEYWORD: WORKPLACE HOWARD

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