More time needed to examine Labor’s IR bill, say crossbench senators and employer groups

The senate crossbench says it wants more time to scrutinise the ‘massive’ industrial relations bill while employer groups warn it could have ‘widespread impacts’. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Labor has been urged by crossbench senators and employer groups not to rush through the complex industrial relations changes it says are needed urgently to increase wages.

On Thursday the workplace relations minister, Tony Burke, introduced the secure jobs, better pay bill, which proposes wide-ranging changes including expanded multi-employer bargaining and increased arbitration of wage disputes.