This report argues that reform is required to allow for greater flexibility over penalty rates in what is currently a highly centralised system.

Since the Labor Government replaced WorkChoices with the Fair Work Act, many business leaders have complained that the new legislation has made the labour market inflexible and unworkable. Conversely, some union leaders have voiced their disappointment that the Fair Work Act did not go far enough in reversing the trend towards labour market liberalisation. So...

This evaluation of the Fair Work Act 2009 and the Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Act 2008 was formally assessed as meeting the requirements of a post-implementation review by the Office of Best Practice Regulation.

This is AHRI’s second study, in association with Deakin University, on the impact for the Fair Work Act in Australian workplaces. The findings provide a first hand perspective on the operational impact of the Fair Work laws.

The author considers what kind of industrial relations system should replace WorkChoices and proposes a social partnership agenda for Australia.