Govt to consider changing new IR laws

The Rudd government will consider changing its new industrial relations laws after
examining submissions to a Senate inquiry into the Fair Work Bill.
Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard says Labor will consider "technical
amendments" that improve the bill, including strengthening workers' termination
rights and privacy provisions.
"The Rudd government will carefully examine all submissions to the inquiry, as well
as the recommendations of the Senate committee, to ensure the bill is drafted to the
best possible standard and is fair, effective and balanced," Ms Gillard said in a
statement.
The deputy prime minister said a number of submissions identified a provision that
was inconsistent with the government's national employment standards.
The entitlement to one week's notice of termination for employees with less than 12
months service was inadvertently removed from the bill, she said.
"The government will therefore make a supplementary submission to the inquiry and
indicate its intention to amend the clause to guarantee the entitlement as
promised."
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner suggested a number of amendments to enhance
privacy protections applying to information collected under the right of entry and
protected action ballot provisions of the bill.
"The government will carefully consider these recommendations (too)," Ms Gillard said.
The Senate inquiry has received 146 submissions from employer groups, unions,
academics and community organisations.
Hearings were held in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth last week, with further hearings
to be held in other capital cities later this month.
The committee's final report is to be tabled on February 27.