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South Australian Industrial Law Reform Bill 2004
Update 12 May 2004
Objections to the South Australian Industrial Relations Bill have become widespread in South Australia and have extended across Australia.
Independent Contractors of Australia believes that the Bill should be withdrawn on the grounds that it denies independent contractors the right to be independent contractors.
(Click here for ICA's full assessment of the South Australian Draft Bill.)
However, the Bill has raised opposition from a wide variety and range of industry and community groups on many grounds both related and unrelated to independent contractors. It is difficult to find any industry group that does not oppose the Bill.
Business SA. Is the peak business/industry body in SA. It has formed a subcommittee of 20 business & employer groups dedicated to lobbying to have the Bill withdrawn.
'We all share the same concerns about the damage this Bill will do to business, the State's economy and the South Australian community.'
Access Economics
'The Bill ... would contribute to a less competitive and less favourable outcome for Adelaide in the next KPMG survey of competitiveness'
South Australian Road Transport Association
'a disaster for trucking' ... 'social engineering of the worst kind'
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
'unheralded policy adventurism'
South Australian Wine & Brandy Association
'great concern'
Australian Hotels Association
'The proposed changes are crazy'
Master Builders Association
'a huge disincentive to employ young people.'
Group Training Australia
'Will affect half of SA estimated 7,000 apprentices.'
Association of Independent Schools SA
'State's private schools will be hit by increased costs.'
Information Technology Contracting Recruitment Association
'a critical attack on contractor management'
Australian Mines and Metals Association
'increased burdens' ... 'progressing further union demands on industrial issues'
Housing Industry Association
'Changes to the definition of 'employment', contract of employment' and 'worker' that will disadvantage small business and place at risk many existing contractual arrangements central to a viable work force in SA.'
Catholic Schools Association. Catholic Education Office
'concerned about the impact on its teaching requirements'
Others known to have made comment against the Bill include
Motor Trades Association
Australian Hospitality Association
South Australian Taxi Association
It appears that the more this highly complicated, wordy and convoluted Bill is studied, the more it is understood for being an attack against the rights of workers and businesses across a broad spectrum. It should be noted, however, that it is only a draft Bill and is (correctly) being subject to wide public analysis. ICA believes it should be withdrawn.
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