Key crossbench Senator David Pocock is demanding extra safeguards for small business, and the removal of a provision enabling a single union to veto multi-employer agreements, as conditions of his support for the
The Senate committee, in which the government participated, recommended lifting that to 20. Mr Burke has also endorsed the number.But Senator Pocock, who always thought the original threshold of fewer than 15 was too low, is not satisfied either with the proposal of fewer than 20. The bill, as it currently stands, proposes all unions representing employees must agree before an agreement is put to a vote.
In a bid to garner Senator Pocock’s support, it has promised a Senate vote before the end of next week on a bill that would enshrine the rights of the territories. Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said organisations such as his would fight the bill to the very end.