Senator Eric Abetz

Labor's post-implementation review of the Fair Work Act appears to conflict with the Office of Best Practice Regulation's Guidelines (OBPR) for such a review.

"It's clear that the reviews Terms of Reference leave out the fundamental issues of productivity and flexibility and favour union bosses," Senator Abetz said today.

As a result of these concerns, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Eric Abetz, has today written to the OBPR requesting that it examine the Terms of Reference and recommend their broadening.

"It is important to ensure that the Government's own guidelines on such reviews are followed in this case," Senator Abetz said today.

"The Government's own guidelines say that post-implementation reviews should consider:

• the problem that the regulation was intended to address
• the objective of government action
• the impacts of the regulation (whether the regulation is meeting its objectives),
• whether the government’s objectives could be achieved in a more efficient and effective way, and
• be on the scale and scope of a Regulatory Impact Statement."

Senator Abetz said the review of the Fair Work Act should be full and robust, and listen to all quarters of the community, not just those that side with Minister Shorten and his union boss mates.

"It must not assume that the Fair Work Act is 'working well' or that only 'tinkering' is required."

"I look forward to hearing from the Office of Best Practice Regulation on whether the Terms of Reference conform with the Government's own guidelines," Senator Abetz concluded.