Fed: Reith vows to fight on business calls for new system

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-1999
Fed: Reith vows to fight on business calls for new system

The business community has called for a complete rethink of Australia's industrial
relations system in the wake of Workplace Relations Minister PETER REITH's failed second
wave of reforms.

The Australian Democrats yesterday all but shot down the so-called second wave laws.

The rejection places in limbo Mr REITH's goal of union secret ballots, a cutback on
unfair dismissal applications, restriction of union access to work sites and a tightening
of circumstances in which a strike can be held.

With Labor opposed outright to the bill, the Democrats' support in the Senate was vital.

The Democrats announced they would reject 13 elements of the bill, effectively leaving
in place only five uncontroversial schedules of the original 18.

A disappointed Mr REITH has vowed to press on with the reforms, possibly breaking them
up into more bills for further consideration next year.

AAP RTV daw/msk/as

KEYWORD: INDUSTRIAL (CANBERRA)

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