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Ministers move forward on new
national workplace system
NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, John Della Bosca, said the first workplace relations meeting with the Rudd Government today had delivered a clear way forward to dismantle the unfair WorkChoices laws.
Mr Della Bosca said he was pleased with the new level of cooperation demonstrated between the States and the Commonwealth.
“The Rudd Government was true to its word to listen and be more open to the States and their industrial relations concerns,” Mr Della Bosca said.
“During the meeting I was impressed with the break-neck pace approach that Deputy Prime Minister Gillard has adopted in removing the worst aspects of WorkChoices which have hurt working families across Australia.
“We were given an undertaking that the Transitional Bill, which would remove AWAs from Australian workplaces would be introduced in federal parliament as soon as possible when it resumes later this month.
“A Substantive Bill will also be completed by the end of this year which will rein in a new industrial relations system to replace the Howard Government’s unfair WorkChoices laws,” he said.
Mr Della Bosca said the Deputy Prime Minister had confirmed she would be extensively consulting the States and Territories during the Substantive Bill process.
“This is a great opportunity, but with this opportunity comes great responsibility,” Mr Della Bosca said.
“This marks an important step in putting in place an industrial relations system that reflects Australian values and looks after the interest of all Australian families.
“Now that we have a Labor Government in Canberra, today’s meeting represents a new dawn in State-Commonwealth relations and a golden opportunity to right the wrongs of the past.
“I look forward to working closely with my Federal, State and Territory colleagues in delivering a fair and equitable industrial system,” he added.
NSW MInister for Industrial Relations
1 February 2008
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