"It's a very scary future...": a preliminary analysis of employee perceptions of the Work Choices Act 2005

Amidst much controversy, Australia's most radical employment regulation as yet known, the Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) Act 2005, received Royal Assent on 14 December 2005 and most of the provisions came into effect on 27 March 2006. Both the federal government and large industry groups argue that the legislation will improve flexibility, productivity, participation rates and work/life balance, reaping positive benefits for all concerned. In contrast, critics such as the Labor party, the Australian Council of Trade Unions and numerous academics argue that the legislation will undermine workers' democratic rights, disadvantage marginalised individuals and fail to enhance productivity and employment. Yet, the actual experiences of employees and their implications are largely unknown. Using data from the 'Your Rights at Work' campaign, this research seeks to extend this debate by empirically analysing employees' preliminary experiences under the Work Choices legislation.