Tony Abbott must release the terms of reference for his Productivity Commission inquiry into industrial relations so workers know what might be at risk under an Abbott Government.
ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver said there were still many unknowns about Mr Abbott’s IR policy and he needed to come clean about his full plans, including the terms of reference for the Productivity Commission inquiry and whether he would change regulations governing minimum standards or unfair dismissal for small business.
“Mr Abbott clearly wants to use the Productivity Commission to drive greater use of individual contracts and attacks on workers’ rights and conditions,” Mr Oliver said.
“The Productivity Commission has a long track record of recommending cuts to penalty rates and the wider use of individual contracts, and any inquiry will be dominated by the voices of business groups.”
“Mr Abbott has already announced that if he becomes Prime Minister he will legislate for greater use of Individual Flexibility Agreements, and business leaders have already been queuing calling for his industrial relations policy to be made even more extreme.”
“He must be honest with workers by outlining the terms of reference for his inquiry – so that they know which of their conditions and entitlements are under threat.”
