What’s in Labor’s new laws?
Prohibited content is a hangover from the old Workchoices laws. It restricts the parties from making a collective agreement that deals with a number of topics. Given it was drafted by the Howard government, many of the restrictions relate to normal cooperative practices between unions and employers. For example the Howard government laws restrict the ability to have training for union workplace representatives. Labor has made clear they will get rid of such restrictions. Labor’s policy makes clear the parties should be free to reach agreement on most matters. Labor is currently drafting the law to get rid of prohibited content. It is expected the law will be introduced to the Parliament before the end of the year. Labor has already passed some interim legislation, the “Transition” act, to stop employers from making any new AWAs. The next act will address many other issues, including prohibited content. Prohibited content applies to registered agreements only. That is agreements which a
