ALP Workplace Relations Policy

1 May 2007: Coverage of comments made by the BCA regarding the ALP workplace relations policy.

Michael Chaney said the BCA was ‘very concerned and surprised’ it had not been consulted about the details of the changes proposed by Labor. “Despite claiming to support policies that will lead to continued productivity, the ALP has clearly ignored consistent and strong business representations about how productivity and jobs growth is achieved in the economy”.

From ‘BHP Warns Rudd on IR Damage’ by Mark Skulley and Eric Johnson, The Australian Financial Review, 1 May 2007.

The Business Council of Australia last night warned that the Opposition Leader’s “family friendly” policies – outlined at the ALP national conference on Saturday – were “certain” to destroy jobs.

From ‘Gillard Fuels Business Anger’ by Patricia Karvelas & Steve Lewis, The Australian, 1 May 2007, p. 1.

BHP said it strongly supported recent comments by the BCA, Minerals Council of Australia and Western Australian Premier Alan Carpenter in relation to AWAs.  

From ‘BHP Slams Labor’s IR Stance’ by Kevin Andrusiak, The Australian, 1 May 2007, p. 17.

From now on, business will view Labor policy through the prism of its industrial platform. Take this response from the Business Council of Australia yesterday. Council president Michael Chaney said business was “very concerned and surprised” that it had not been consulted over the detail of Labor’s workplace relations policy. Despite claiming to support policies that will lead to continued productivity, the ALP “clearly ignored consistent and strong business representations about how productivity and jobs growth is achieved in the economy'”. Just to make sure Labor was listening, Chaney twisted the knife even further; the BCA is “certain that the policy outlined [last Saturday] will destroy jobs and increase unemployment”.

From ‘Rudd Could Travel Down Latham’s Road’ by Steve Lewis, The Australian, 1 May 2007, p. 12.

The president of the Business Council of Australia, Michael Chaney, said the ALP’s industrial relations policy ignored consistent and strong business representations about how productivity and employment growth were achieved in the economy.

From ‘Labor Admits Policy a Work in Progress’ by Mark Davis, The Sydney Morning Herald, 1 May 2007, p. 4.

“It is clear there is very little in the policy which reflects the needs and priorities of business,” Business Council of Australia president Michael Chaney said yesterday.  

From ‘Battle For Bosses’ Hearts and Minds’ by Steve Burrell, The Sydney Morning Herald, 1 May 2007, p. 28

“It is clear there is very little in the policy which reflects the needs and priorities of business,” Business Council of Australia president Michael Chaney said yesterday.

From ‘Howard Banks on Budget as Election Battlelines Drawn’ by Steve Burrell, The Age, 1 May 2007, p. 8.

The Business Council of Australia and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry are considering teaming up to run a paid advertising campaign worth tens of millions of dollars to counter the union movement's successful anti-WorkChoices campaign.

‘Rudd Sends out Pledge to Workers on AWAs’ by Michelle Grattan & Michael Bachelard, The Age, 1 May 2007, p. 4.

Business Council of Australia president Michael Chaney said: “It is clear there is very little in the policy which reflects the needs and priorities of business, which have been expressed to the ALP on many occasions.” 

From ‘BHP Lashes ALP: Not Happy, Julia’ by John Ferguson & Ben Packham, Herald Sun, 1 May 2007, p. 5.

The Business Council of Australia and the Minerals Council have also expressed serious concerns. BCA president Michael Chaney said the policy would turn the clock back on productivity and growth. “The extent of the radical shift for Australia's workplace relations outlined in the policy is very worrying,” he said. “The policy runs directly counter to the needs of a modern workplace and economy.”

From ‘BHP Leads Business Backlash’ by Ben Packham & John Ferguson, Herald Sun, 1 May 2007, p. 27.

Business Council of Australia president Michael Chaney said bluntly that it would be a job killer. “It is clear there is very little in the policy which reflects the needs and priorities of business, which have been expressed to the ALP on many occasions,” Mr Chaney said.

‘Labor Plan Blasted as Job Killer – Rudd Cops Flak for Industrial Policy and $200,000 ‘Battlers’ Tag’ by Clinton Porteous, The Courier-Mail, 1 May 2007, p. 8.

The problem is that Rudd and Gillard have been promising something else to the corporate world and employers. What was Rudd thinking when he told the Business Council of Australia on February 1 that Labor would strive to “deliver a reasonable balance between flexibility and fairness in the workplace”?

From ‘Dream Team Delivers Nightmare IR Vision’ by Clinton Porteous, The Courier-Mail, 1 May 2007, p. 8.

Labor has unnecessarily poked a sleeping giant – and the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Australian Council of Small Business will now surely unite to wage a fierce anti-Labor campaign.

From editorial titled ‘Union Stance May Cost Rudd Dearly’, The Courier-Mail, 1 May 2007, p. 18.

Business Council of Australia president Michael Chaney said Labor’s new policy involved a “massive re-regulation of employer-employee relations that would turn the clock back on productivity and growth.”

From ‘Bosses Revolt on ALP Work Law Fix’ by Steve Lewis, Northern Territory News, 1 May 2007, p. 9.