Industrial Legislation in 2005

The federal government’s WorkChoices reforms - finally passed by both houses of Parliament in December 2005 - dominated legislative development in the industrial relations field in 2005. This report digests the main features of the extensive changes wrought by this legislation, including the ‘hostile takeover’ of the State systems, the establishment of a new wage-fixing body, changes to workplace bargaining, more draconian controls on industrial action, and the changes to unfair dismissal protection. A constitutional challenge to this legislation has been lodged by several State governments. The outcome of this challenge will not be known for some time.