Victorian Coalition Government releases draft IR guidelines for comment
The Victorian Coalition Government today released for public comment a draft
of new industrial relations guidelines for Victorian Government building and
construction work.
Minister for Finance Robert Clark said the new guidelines will form part of
the Victorian Code of Practice for the Building and Construction Industry and
will replace the current industrial relations principles.
“We want to ensure that the workplace arrangements and practices applying to
firms that tender for State Government contracts comply with workplace laws,
promote productivity and reduce the cost and delay risks associated with
industrial relations,” Mr Clark said.
“This will mean fewer cost blowouts and ensure taxpayers get better value for
money when funds are spent on community infrastructure such as schools,
hospitals, roads and public transport.”
The revised guidelines will assist the industry to achieve behavioural change
on Victorian building sites, particularly in relation to compliance with the
law, the cessation of practices designed to circumvent legal obligations, the
prompt termination of unlawful industrial action, the achievement of higher
safety standards and stronger protection of freedom of association.
“The new guidelines will be modeled on the national guidelines and will refer
specifically to freedom of association and the right to join or not join a
union,” Mr Clark said.
“They will also require firms tendering for work to demonstrate how they meet
the new guidelines, including improved management of industrial relations and
safety.
“The Coalition Government is determined to use its purchasing power to
promote compliance and productivity across the Victorian building and
construction industry.
“The guidelines will be built into contractual arrangements which means
breaches will incur consequences such as restrictions on tendering for future
work.
“By strengthening compliance requirements on construction sites, the
Coalition Government will be able to reduce the risks of delay and cost blowouts
to the Victorian taxpayer,” Mr Clark said.
The Victorian Coalition Government will consider the submissions it receives
before finalising the new guidelines in coming months.
The guidelines will be open for public comment and feedback until 28 October
2011.
The Department of Treasury and Finance will co-ordinate the consultation
process, with the draft guidelines and related material published on the
Department’s website (www.dtf.vic.gov.au).
Submissions can be submitted by post to
Review of State
Industrial Relations Principles
c/o Department of Treasury and Finance
1
Treasury Place
Melbourne VIC 3000
Or email:
irprinciples.consultation@dtf.vic.gov.au