This report considers why wages growth in Australia has been so low over recent years, despite a tight labour market and a brief surge in inflation. It documents how workers have lost power in the past two decades, with most changes in the economy and many in government policy taking away workers’ bargaining power, although...

The impact, effectiveness and consequences of the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 and the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes Act) 2023 are detailed in this review, which finds the reforms to be broadly appropriate and effective. The draft report provides an opportunity for feedback on the preliminary findings and...

This paper outlines a vision for a pro-employment, small-business friendly, simplified and responsive workplace relations system. It proposes review and reform of the Fair Work Act, which the authors argue is increasingly unfit for purpose and puts undue burden on small business operators.

The Australian small businesses community is under pressure from rising costs, putting its significant contribution to the economy at risk. This report brings together research from various sources to examine the challenges and pressures facing the sector, providing detailed insights and proposed interventions across key areas including energy, workforce and cyber security.

This report finds the Australian Government should leverage its position as financier of renewable energy projects to guarantee strong labour standards in new energy and manufacturing jobs. It calls for labour standards to be embedded in Australia’s energy transition and industrial strategies, by attaching conditions to public financial support, and penalising non-compliance with these conditions.