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Workplace relations a focus of Abbott’s productivity working group

IMPROVING workplace laws to discourage law breaking will be a key element of a Coalition Government’s plans to improve productivity, according to Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

On 2 November, Mr Abbott announced the establishment of a Productivity Priorities Working Group which will develop a plan towards greater productivity performance.

“Australia’s productivity has slumped under the Rudd-Gillard Government and represents a long term danger to the Australian economy,” Mr Abbott said in a statement.

“Output per person has risen by just 0.7 per cent a year, less than one-third the average rate of 2¼ per cent per year achieved throughout the life of the previous Coalition Government.

“The Working Group will consult with business, state and local governments and the wider community to ensure that we can hit the ground running in implementing our productivity agenda.”

The Coalition’s plan to improve productivity is based on:

  • cutting red tape;
  • encouraging more people into the workforce;
  • making public institutions more effective and responsive;
  • better competition rules;
  • getting greater value from infrastructure spending; and
  • improving workplace laws to discourage law breaking.

The Working Group will be chaired by Mr Steven Ciobo MHR, with Mr Josh Frydenberg MHR and Mr Dan Tehan MHR as Deputy Chairs.

“Australia today is a relatively less productive nation with stalled productivity growth…The slowing of productivity growth has been a consequence of a number of Labor’s policies which have seen increased regulation, taxes, and lower workforce participation combined,” Mr Ciobo said.

The Working Group will consult with small businesses, industry groups, academics and think-tanks to formulate a list of productivity enhancing reforms.

The Working Group is accepting submissions until 1 March 2013 and can be sent to [email protected].

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