View from The Hill: how far will the opposition go on industrial relations reform? Probably not too far

In a significant speech on Thursday, the Coalition's industrial relations spokeswoman Jane Hume delivered a critical evaluation of Australia's workplace relations landscape. She also announced two relatively minor measures. The Coalition government would restore a "cop on the beat" for the construction industry, a policy that has been implemented before under the Howard government and then scrapped by the Gillard government, only to be reinstated by the Turnbull government and subsequently abolished by the Albanese government.

Hume also stated that a Coalition government would repeal the law that allows the government to give preference to businesses with union-backed enterprise agreements in contracts, procurements, and grants. This prohibition, which was once discriminatory, is now unlawful.

However, it remains unclear whether the Coalition will make a robust commitment to industrial relations reform part of its policy offering for the 2028 election. Hume's speech did not offer a clear answer to this question. The speech can be seen as a "down payment," but it is not clear what exactly it pertains to. The Albanese government has implemented numerous reforms to the benefit of the union movement, such as protections for workers in the gig economy and the right to disconnect.

The Coalition argues that these measures may hinder productivity, which is crucial for improving living standards. However, opposing the government's actions and promising to reverse them or make different changes in industrial relations are two different things.

The Coalition had hoped that businesses would contribute to the public debate on industrial relations and report on any negative effects from the government's reforms. However, this has not been extensive. Many members of the Coalition's base would like the party to confront Labor on industrial relations, but some political operatives are wary of the potential retaliation from Labor.

John Howard's radical WorkChoices policy, which ended John Howard's leadership, remains a sensitive topic for the Liberal Party. Hume has been cautious in her public appearances, focusing instead on other issues. She herself has had a negative experience regarding industrial relations when she attempted to force Canberra public servants back to working in the office, which caused a political crisis for the opposition and led the Coalition to abandon the proposal.