The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry congratulates Deputy President the Hon. Reg Hamilton on his retirement from the Fair Work Commission (FWC) and welcomes his constructive contribution to debate on improving our industrial relations laws.
“Following a distinguished career at the highest levels of industrial relations policy and practice across four decades, the Hon. Reg Hamilton’s paper is a timely reminder of the importance of working together, particularly to ensure our enterprise agreement system is functional,” ACCI chief executive Andrew McKellar said.
“The Hon. Reg Hamilton’s intervention is a clear impetus to kickstart dialogue between employers, unions and government on the practical operation of our industrial relations system.
“For too long, employers and employees have been forced to work against our industrial relations system, rather than with its support. As such, it is scarcely surprising that enterprise bargaining is dying.
“If our country is incapable of viewing industrial relations in anything other than black and white terms, we will continue to reap what we sow. Current enterprise bargaining laws are failing to support productivity growth and business competitiveness, jobs and living standards.
“Government, employers and unions should sit down in coming months to consider this important contribution and identify opportunities to work together constructively.
