Industrial Legislation in 2011

Consolidation and industry-specific legislation were two general themes in 2011 federal developments, signifying a shift in the legislative agenda after the implementation of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). Starting with the first theme, this article considers: steps towards streamlining federal equality law; the progress and pitfalls in the occupational health and safety harmonization process; and proposed enhancements to the national paid parental leave system, including steps to resolve teething problems caused by the interaction between Paid Parental Leave and Fair Work legislation. Second, we review industry-specific developments. These include: a Bill to introduce a 'safe rates' regime and allow for independent contractor collective bargaining in the road transport sector; and a Bill to extend the bulk of Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) protections to textile, clothing and footwear industry contractors and make it easier for these workers to recover unpaid debts across the supply chain. Third, we summarize relevant state developments, which were diverse in focus.