The referral of the NSW Government’s industrial relations powers concerning private, non-incorporated employees to the Federal jurisdiction is welcome news for both NSW employers and employees, Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations Greg Pearce said today.

“After 14 years of Labor Government in NSW, our industrial relations regime is out of step with the rest of Australia and has held back investment and business growth in our State,” Mr Pearce said.

“We are on the record criticising the complexity and inconsistencies between existing State systems covering non-corporate employees, it is causing problems for businesses operating across State borders.

“The NSW Liberals & Nationals have always been committed to achieving a balance between the needs of employees for the fullest protection and the desire of employers for greater certainty in fulfilling their obligations.  We have also remained committed to retaining State coverage of the public sector and local government.

“The need for this referral has been evident for sometime as NSW Labor was incapable of fixing the problems in the IR system.

“The Rees Labor Government dragged the chain on industrial relations reform, obstructed the introduction of a national system for OH&S and persisted with workplace laws that drive businesses and jobs away from NSW.

“The referral was delayed by NSW Finance Minister Joe Tripodi, while Industrial Relations Minister John Hatzistergos was sidelined from the main decision-making until Tripodi’s sacking.

“Under this referral of powers, all NSW employees, other than State Government departments and local councils, will come under the Federal Fair Work legislation.

“The NSW Liberals & Nationals welcome the package’s inclusion of Federal funding and support for education and transition arrangements for NSW employers and employees.

“We support the safeguard provided in a two-thirds majority for changes to the Federal laws and the States’ right to opt out.

“As the NSW Liberals & Nationals have long advocated, the benefits of a single system, with less complexity, a sensible unfair dismissal regime and access to enterprise agreements, will improve NSW competitiveness, productivity, cut costs,” Mr Pearce said.