PRECEDENT AND POLICY: AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS REFORM IN THE 21ST CENTURY USING THE CORPORATIONS POWER

Abstract

[This article will discuss the topical issue of whether the Commonwealth, in Australia’s federal system of government, can rely on its so-called “corporations power” in order to pass planned industrial relations laws. The Federal Government has recently indicated its plans to introduce a national system of industrial relations regulation in Australia. While the detail of the proposed legislation is not currently to hand, the planned changes raise a controversial issue whether the Australian Government would permit such regulation. This article considers the corporations power as justification for the proposed laws.]