CONCLUSION 271. AMMA advocates on behalf of the nation’s resources and energy employers to achieve the industry’s vision for cooperative and productive workplace relations, unleashed through a flexible and future-focused system, safeguarding the industry’s competitiveness in the global economy. 272. To achieve this vision, Australia must have the appropriate legislative framework, administered by a practical-focused and high-performing national workplace tribunal, to support employers and employees to achieve more cooperative and harmonious workplace relations across the economy. 273. This is particularly true for the resources and energy industry which is undergoing a revolution across skills, demographics, employee attitudes and productivity-enhancing technologies. 274. After a prolonged period – under both ALP and Coalition Governments - where the critical need for meaningful industrial relations reform was largely ignored, AMMA commends the Morrison Government for seeking to align the functions and performance of the national employment framework with the future aspirations of Australian employers and employees. 275. The overarching concern of resources and energy industry employers is that the current workplace system has significantly limited the capacity for employers to engage directly with their employees to establish mutually beneficial outcomes and considers the interests of both the enterprise and the workforce. The ability to engage directly on workplace matters is at the heart of achieving the most cooperative and harmonious industrial relations. 276. AMMA urges Australia’s national policymakers to consider and address the rigidity and complexity of our workplace relations system and seek to remove the significant red tape and regulatory burdens that are impacting both employers and employees to achieve cooperative and harmonious workplace relations. 277. AMMA would welcome the opportunity to provide further counsel, evidence, employer feedback and/or any other information that would assist the Attorney General in investigating this issue.
AMMA Submission to A-G Discussion Paper “Cooperative Workplaces”
Page 42
