Anthony Albanese has played down concerns from the Victorian government and employer groups about amendments to Labor’s industrial relations bill, after warnings they will embolden unions to refuse to bargain with industry.
The Victorian treasurer, Tim Pallas, has written to the federal workplace relations minister, Tony Burke, warning the amendments will guarantee unions “will be no worse off on a clause by clause basis” if they dig in and seek an arbitrated outcome from the industrial umpire, encouraging unions to do so. The amendments were introduced by the Greens and agreed by Burke.
