FAIRNESS TEST STRENGTHENS JOB FLEXIBILITY FOR THE LOCAL WORKFORCE

NSW Nationals Senator Fiona Nash said the introduction of a Fairness Test to the Coalition Government’s WorkChoices laws will help reinforce the strong jobs and wages growth already created since the Government took office. Senator Nash said the Fairness Test will apply to employees earning under $75,000 per annum and will ensure employees, when negotiating their Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs), will receive fair compensation if they choose to trade off conditions such as penalty rates, leave and public holiday loadings, meal and shift allowances and rest breaks. “With the unemployment rate at its lowest level in decades, it’s obvious WorkChoices is creating real results for hard working Australian families,” Senator Nash said. “Since the laws were introduced, more than 276,000 new jobs have been created, strike action is at its lowest levels since records were first kept and real wages have continued to grow. “While the benefits are clear, concerns have been raised that some workers may not be properly compensated when trading off penalty rates or other protected conditions. “In response to these concerns, the Coalition Government will build on the reforms we’ve already made by introducing the Fairness Test which will ensure employees will receive fair compensation for trading away protected award benefits such as penalty rates and public holiday pay. “While Labor is determined to take the country backwards and wind back the clock on workplace reform, the Coalition Government is focused on moving forward and capitalising on the achievements made by this Government. “Flexibility, which is the cornerstone of the WorkChoices legislation, is essential to a strong labor market. Businesses and their staff in rural and regional Australia need to have the freedom to negotiate and structure their work agreements to suit their individual circumstances – something Labor clearly doesn’t understand.” Media contact: Julie Siegert 0429 818 600

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