The Business Council remains concerned the Government's raft of crippling industrial relations changes will dampen productivity, limit flexibility and make it harder to do business in Australia.
Business Council Chief Executive Bran Black said the draft report into Secure Jobs, Better Pay is a missed opportunity at making the economy more competitive and taking real action on trying to deliver higher sustainable wages growth.
"These workplace law changes have fundamentally made it harder to do business in Australia, coming at a cost to productivity which underpins sustainable real wages growth," Mr Black said.
"I consistently hear Australia is becoming a too complex place to do business - that will inevitably drive investment from our shores and limit our ability to grow and diversify our economy.
"The Same Job, Same Pay amendments have created an IR system that favours union interests, rather than striking the right balance between protecting workers and simultaneously supporting innovation and growth.
The BCA is disappointed the review did not take on employers' sensible calls for amendments to the Fair Work Act, which include needed changes to intractable bargaining and forced bargaining provisions that are impacting some of the country's most productive sectors.
Mr Black also noted it was remarkable no changes were recommended to the laws given last year's allegations of systemic misconduct across the CFMEU.
"It's astonishing that recent allegations of criminal behaviour and systemic corruption across the CFMEU did not prompt the review panel to recommend bringing back a building industry regulator," Mr Black said.
The BCA acknowledges the review panel agreed that the fixed-term contract limitations (introduced by the Secure Jobs, Better Pay amendments) have created complexity and confusion for employers. The BCA raised this in its submission to the review and is pleased that the report recommends these changes be reviewed.
The BCA will respond to the recommendations included in the draft report and continue to seek amendments to the Fair Work Act to improve bargaining rules, operational flexibilities and productivity for Australian business and their workers.
