Industrial Legislation in 2004

The federal government finally secured passage of some of its workplace relations amendments in 2004—the transmission of business provisions for certified agreements, introduction of interim section 127 orders and some increased penalties for bad behaviour—and it dealt promptly with the Electrolux crisis created by the High Court in September. More amendments are clearly on the way. This report notes bills remaining on the agenda at the close of Parliamentary business in December. We also review the new Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cwlth), and note some state developments.