Labor National Conference: Amanda Rishworth says party will introduce lockout laws for striking workers
Labor has agreed to measures to prevent workers from being locked out of their jobs during industrial disputes, but has stopped short of a total ban.
Reforms to stop disproportionate employer lockouts of workers who take strike action will be put in place imminently, the workplace minister says.
Amanda Rishworth said on Saturday a timeframe for the establishment of a federal industrial court - and how it would function - had yet to be worked out.
Delegates at Labor’s national conference in Adelaide on the third and final day on Saturday agreed to amendments to limit disproportionate workplace lockouts.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Labor will amend the Fair Work Act to empower workers and their unions to apply to the Fair Work Commission for an order to suspend disproportionate employer response action,” the amendment said.
The triennial conference enshrines the party’s platform on issues, but it is up to the parliamentary wing to determine how policy is implemented.
Ms Rishworth said the measures preventing lockouts needed to be brought in sooner rather than later.
“I will be looking at introducing legislation as soon as practical, but there are, of course, big details to work out,” she told reporters in Adelaide.
“It is unfair that if employees take just a few hours off work ... (employers) would then cut a day’s pay.
“That is disproportionate and we see that time and time again.
“We are not suggesting an outright ban, but we are looking at how we can allow employees to end disproportionate lockouts.”
Ms Rishworth has not confirmed whether the recently announced federal Fair Work Court will be up and running by the next federal election.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Thursday Labor would move to re-establish a federal industrial court, after it was abolished in 1997 by the Howard government.
The court is expected to hear claims of underpayment to settle disputes quicker, but business groups have warned it would create extra levels of red tape.
Ms Rishworth said a timeframe had yet to be locked in, with consultation to be carried out on how the court would function.
“It is very clunky for workers that may have to go through conciliation in the commission, and then find themselves in a completely different jurisdiction in terms of the interaction,” she said.
“We don’t expect any changes to the function of the Fair Work Commission. It does an excellent job at conciliation and arbitration.”
