OLD PAGES > Mr Beazley Needs to Release Details on AWA Policy - 15 Jun

The Illawarra Business Chamber has said the promise of Mr Beazley to retrospectively cancel AWAs and limit the use of non-union agreements has created considerable uncertainty amongst Australian businesses and that Mr Beazley must detail the transitionary arrangements for his policy.

“The decision of Mr Beazley to scrap AWAs and allow existing AWAs to be torn up has and will create uncertainty throughout the business community” said Mark Grimson, CEO of the Illawarra Business Chamber.

“Over 500,000 are employed under AWAs and business needs to see what alternatives to AWAs are being proposed by Mr Beazley. 

“A few lines in the middle of a speech is not enough detail.  Australian businesses expect higher standards in policy work than a few lines.  It is a standard of policy work that is below the standard set by one of Mr Beazley’s senior Shadow Ministers.

“Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Stephen Smith presented on the weekend a 19 page paper on innovation and R&D.  It is a serious paper worthy of debate and it demonstrated the standard of policy work expected from an alternate Government.  At the same time, we have not seen from Mr Beazley the details of how his proposals will work.

”Nor have we seen the details of Mr Beazley’s proposal to re-introduce the unfair dismissal regime to small businesses.  

“Business relies on those involved in the public policy debate to provide detailed proposals that can be debated, improved and understood.  The lack of detail in Mr Beazley’s proposals indicates to business that the required policy work has not been done".

For more information contact Mark Grimson on 02 4229 4722 or 0409 155 240

Release date: 15/06/06