Opposition Leader Kim Beazley’s weekend promise to dismantle AWAs seems sure to alienate the Australian business community as the ALP heads to the next Fed election.

AMMA GM operations Simon Billing today said the move was “disappointing but not surprising”. “We think it’s about attempting to deal unions back into the equation where they haven’t been relevant for a decade or more,” he said. AMMA has estimated around 60% of Australia’s hard rock miners are on AWAs, with that figure rising to 80% in WA. Of that number, most would average 25% to 50% higher wages than they would receive under award rates. “Mining is dealing in global markets and needs flexible working arrangements to respond to market movements, without protracted negotiations with unions every time,” Billing said. Mining and energy export earnings for the current financial year were running at a rate in excess of $93 billion, he said. The removal of AWAs had “potential for significant adverse impact” on the industry and the economy. “Basically we are talking about the same policy Latham went to the election with in 2004, and Beazley went with in 2001,” he said.

The Business Council of Australia, ACCI and the AiG have publicly criticised the ALP’s plans as well as the remarks of their leader Kim Beazley in relation to Australia’s industrial relations reforms.