“The Government's new workplace relations system will provide a strong safety net that workers can rely on, in good and in uncertain economic times.”

“The Government's new fair and balanced workplace relations system has enterprise bargaining at its heart to drive productivity,” said Mr Ripoll.

The Rudd Labor Government promised and has delivered:

• a fair and comprehensive safety net of minimum employment conditions;
• a system that has at its heart bargaining in good faith at the enterprise level;
• protections from unfair dismissal for all employees;
• protection for the low-paid;
• the ability to balance work and family life; and
• the right to be represented in the workplace. 

The Bill delivers on the Government's commitment to establish a new independent industrial umpire, Fair Work Australia, for advice and support on all workplace relations issues and enforcement of legal entitlements.

The Fair Work Bill 2008 will commence on 1 July 2009, following its passage through the Parliament. Consistent with election policy commitments, the National Employment Standards and modern awards will commence on 1 January 2010.

Mr Ripoll said no one side of the debate is going to get everything it wanted because our new workplace relations laws are fair and balanced.

“Our laws bring the workplace pendulum back to the middle, where it belongs and where Australians want it to be,” said Mr Ripoll.

The Rudd Government ended the ability to make new Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) in March this year.

The Rudd Government is determined to get rid of the Liberal Party’s extreme Work Choices laws, the laws firmly rejected by Australians at the last election.