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ICA Statement on the Coalition's Policy for specific Independent Contractors legislation

28 September 2004

At the launch of the Coalition's election policy on Sunday 25 September, the Prime Minister announced the intention, if re-elected, to establish specific Independent Contractor legislation that would protect independent contractors from being pulled into the industrial relations system. (Click here for the policy statement. [200k PDF])

ICA welcomes and strongly supports this initiative.

ICA is strictly non-party-political, but lobbies hard to protect the rights of independent contractors. We have long been openly and vocally opposed to the Queensland s275 legislation that empowers the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to deny independent contractors their legitimate status. We opposed this legislative model being replicated in NSW and Victoria, and this year have transmitted to the Tasmanian and South Australian governments our opposition to their consideration of similar proposals. ICA sent an observer to the International Labor Organisation in 2003 to lobby to protect independent contractors' status internationally from similar s275 policy concepts. ICA has developed and promoted a Declaration of Independent Contractors Rights. (Click here. [30k PDF])

The Coalition's policy appears to be the most important step forward to protect independent contractors' status seen in Australia and is consistent with the position held by ICA. The policy is most welcome.

Should the Coalition be re-elected, ICA will seek to work with the government on the details of the legislation.