Brawl brewing over `Fair Work` bill

A fresh Senate brawl is brewing with both the coalition and Greens warning Labor
they have serious concerns about the government's new workplace laws.
A Senate report delivered on Friday warned the coalition would consider trying to
amend the legislation.
And the Greens complained too much of the Howard government's Work Choices laws will
remain under Labor's bill.
Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard called on the opposition to support the
bill when it goes before the Senate in a fortnight.
But opposition senators, led by committee deputy chair Gary Humphries, said there
were "significant and unresolved flaws" in the Fair Work bill.
Senator Humphries said the coalition conceded "Work Choices is dead" and recognised
the government had a mandate for change.
"But it's worth recording that every one of the witnesses who appeared before the
inquiry urged us to recommend changes to the legislation," Senator Humphries told
reporters on Friday.
"Not one said the government's got it right, pass it as it is."
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull confirmed the coalition would not block the bill
but reserved the right to propose amendments.
Senator Humphries said it was up to the coalition party room to decide what it would
do but the minority report raised concerns about union right of entry rules, unfair
dismissal laws, bargaining guidelines and operation of the new tribunal, Fair Work
Australia.
Greens senator Rachel Siewert said in her minority report the government had missed
an opportunity, leaving too much of the Work Choices regime in the new system, due
to start early next year.
"Individual agreements will continue to have the potential to exploit workers, the
unfair dismissal laws don't go far enough, and the limited powers afforded to Fair
Work Australia are causes for concern," Senator Siewert said in a statement.
The dissenting reports have set the scene for more trouble for Labor in the Senate.
It needs the support of either the opposition or all the crossbench senators to push
any draft laws through the upper house.
With the coalition considering amendments and the Greens declaring their
unhappiness, it could be another eventful debate in the Senate following the drawn
out negotiations over the government's $42 billion stimulus package.
The government wants to have the bill through parliament by Easter.
Ms Gillard welcomed the conclusion of the inquiry which received 154 submissions and
took evidence during six days of public hearings, and called on senators to "accept
the will of the Australian people".
"From media reports it is clear that the opposition is looking for any excuse to
keep Work Choices in place," Ms Gillard said in a statement.
"As promised, the government will carefully consider the technical amendments
recommended by the Senate committee on their merits.'