AIER has made a submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission’s Inquiry into Traditional Rights and Freedoms.
Our submission focuses on the unjustified limitations in Commonwealth law, notably the Fair Work Act and Competition and Consumer Act, on freedom of association rights, in particular in relation to collective bargaining and the right to strike.
The rise of insecure and precarious work, the increase in the use of labour hire, and the pressure to reduce minimum standards are all significant challenges for Australian policy-makers. The AIER submits that to address these challenges the right to collectively bargain must be fully recognised in Australian law.