Reviewing Awards Under WorkChoices: Taskforce report

By Bruce Heddle and Marilyn Pittard

One of the major aims of the WorkChoices legislation was the "rationalisation" of the award system and introducing simpler pay structures.

The Award Review Taskforce has relased a series of options and recommendations. The report notes that there is considerable diversity in the approaches used by the federal and state commissions in wage and classification structures and diversity even within the commissions.

No recommendations were made for the rationalization of wage and classification structures. Rather it acknowledged that an approach had to be integrated with the Fair Pay Commissions approach. The Taskforce also found that the 3 year timeframe to eliminate state and territory awards was insufficient, rationalisation of casual loadings would have to achieved by legislation. It also found a whole series of implementation issues for introducing any rationalised system.

(LexisNexis Butterworths Employment Law Bulletin. vol. 12 nos. 6 and 7)