The BCA has called for a root-and-branch overhaul of the country's IR system that would significantly sideline the FWC in agreement-making, downgrade awards in favour of the NES and redirect the FWO's energies towards helping employers ensure their payrolls are compliant.
The FWC faces major changes after the May 21 Federal election, with the winner entrusted with appointing a successor to President Iain Ross and Labor pledging to "rebalance" the tribunal after a succession of appointments from an employer background.
In a clear effort to turn up the heat on IR reforms ahead of the federal election, the resource sector's peak employer body has urged all major parties to commit to introducing key parts of the Morrison Government's so-called Omnibus Bill that were hastily jettisoned last year.
BHP's announcement that its workforce will have to be vaccinated by the end of January has failed to win support from the miners' union, with a State leader championing the alternative of education and incentives while pointing out that the company is not the direct employer of most of its workers.
The BCA has called for government, business and unions to collaborate on the best model to establish paid family and domestic violence leave as a universal employment right.
The re-election of the Morrison Coalition Government has preserved the features of the current industrial relations system, but left unanswered questions over its workplace agenda for the next three years.
The Victorian ALP will revive attempts to ensure that all public sector employees can bargain over the same matters, if it is re-elected at the State election on Saturday.
The Minerals Council has entered the IR debate with a call to outlaw industrial action over labour hire and contracting-out, sideline unions and make it more difficult to enter workplaces and establish unlawful adverse action.
Two weeks into the federal election campaign, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called for the re-introduction of statutory individual agreements and the removal of all content except wage rates from modern awards.
