Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Andrew McKellar has called on the Senate to"reject" proposed changes to Australia's industrial relations laws.
The proposed changes will come into effect 12 months later than originally planned, while small businesses will be exempt and mining companies granted a test designed to ensure specialist contractors are not caught up in the reforms. "It's going to make it harder for businesses to employ people whether that's in labour hire, whether that's in casual employment, whether you are an innovative new gig platform looking for workers," he said.
Mr McKellar said recent government concessions were not enough to assuage fears the proposed changes would push up costs and make doing business more difficult. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage He also rejected the argument the concessions were an olive branch from the government and showed they were open to negotiating further on the legislation.