According to the legislation of industrial relations in Australia,
The Government has expressed a goal, over many years, to allow employees and employers to directly determine workplace matters that affect them. In fact, many of the provisions are tightly prescriptive about what is allowed, or disallowed, in bargaining; about how bargaining is to be conducted; and about how unions shall be permitted to conduct their activities (A Group of One Hundred and Fifty One Australian Industrial Relations, Labour Market, and Legal Academics, 2005, p. 5).
“On the other hand, they give great freedom to employers. ‘Freedom of contract’ apparently means a freedom to agree only on terms prescribed by to Government.” (A Group of One Hundred and Fifty One Australian Industrial Relations Labour Market, and Legal Academics, 2005, p. 5) This new regulation of the labor market enhances employer power and demonstrably weakens the position of employees.
The AFPCS is the latest and most significant weakening of protective regulation in Australian decentralized bargaining. The impact of the AFPCS must be measured by examining the new standard in the context of a bargaining environment where there is no or reduced access to unfair dismissal remedies, where there is a right for employers to unilaterally replace agreements with the AFPCS after the former have expired and where Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) prevail over collective agreements and awards ( A Group of One Hundred and Fifty One Australian Industrial Relations Labour Market, and Legal Academics, 2005, p. 9).
“The Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) has determined minimum wages in Australia for one hundred years. It has determined the safety net since its inception.” (Oliver, 1991) “The problem relates to the implicit assumption that raising the minimum wage will affect employment outcomes. In essence, the parameters will mean that the lowest paid will be required to bear a disproportionate burden of economic management.” (Oliver, 1991)
“Collective bargaining allows workers to negotiate their terms and conditions of employment on a more equal footing with their employer and it makes a real difference to the working lives of employees both in Australia and abroad.” (A Group of One Hundred and Fifty One Australian Industrial Relations Labour Market, and Legal Academics, 2005, p. 18) On the other hand, “individual contracts mean less pay, worse conditions, and less control over work for ordinary Australian employees.” (A Group of One Hundred and Fifty One Australian Industrial Relations Labour Market, and Legal Academics, 2005, p. 18)
The Howard Government’s legislation, policies and practices since 1996 have rendered the rights. Unlike other nations with decentralized bargaining systems, Australia has no national laws designed to guarantee employees’ rights to bargain collectively. In fact, it undermines the integrity of collective bargaining and makes it more difficult for employees to make, monitor and enforce collective agreements (A Group of One Hundred and Fifty One Australian Industrial Relations Labour Market, and Legal Academics, 2005, p. 18).
Those paragraphes are all quotes, needs to turn into someone's own words. If someone could help out I will appreciated very much!!!