The Wire

John Howard yesterday proposed the biggest changes to Australia’s IR laws in over a century, aiming to give less power to trade unions and more to employers. If his legislation is passed, a new Fair Pay Commission will assume many of the responsibilities currently held by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. Award working conditions would be cut to exclude jury service leave, termination notice, long service leave and superannuation. Small businesses would be exempt from making redundancy payments, and if they have less than 100 employees, from unfair dismissal laws. Andrew Liberts asked Bill Shorten, National Secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union, for his reaction.