SYDNEY — A community forum organised by ALP MP Tanya Plibersek on September 22 drew 40 people to hear the former Leichhardt mayor, councillor Alice Murphy, professor Russell Landsbury from the University of Sydney and labour lawyer Daniel O’Sullivan.

Murphy and Landsbury criticised proposed federal IR laws for undermining employee rights, compromising the award safety net, increasing wage inequality and weakening job security. Landsbury and 16 other academics have published a “report-card” on the federal government’s proposed industrial relations policy, available at <http://www.econ.usyd.au/wos/IRchangesreportcard>.

Murphy talked up the need to vote Labor in at the next election to safeguard workers’ rights. In response to a question about whether Labor would commit to repealing the law and abolish AWAs (individual contracts), Plibersek said that Labor would have to scrutinise the law before making any promises. She did however say that one of Labor’s principles is its support for job security and its opposition to AWAs.

Pip Hinman

From Green Left Weekly, September 28, 2005.
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