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.

This paper outlines the ILO’s concerns and examines future prospects, including by assessing relevant Australian Labor Party (ALP) and Australian Greens’ policy commitments.

In introducing the ‘WorkChoices’ reforms, the federal government argued that they would encourage increased wages, particularly through Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs). Using unpublished data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Employee Earnings and Hours (EEH) Survey for May 2006 (released March 2007), this report studies the effects of these reforms.

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