April 08, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Australia are concerned about the effect of one of their current government's key policies, according to a Newspoll published in The Australian. 51 per cent of respondents think the industrial relations legislation is bad for the Australian economy.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Australia are concerned about the effect of one of their current government's key policies, according to a Newspoll published in The Australian. 51 per cent of respondents think the industrial relations legislation is bad for the Australian economy.

In the October 2004 election, Australian prime minister John Howard was rewarded with a fourth term in office, as his Coalition of Liberals and Nationals secured 87 seats in the House of Representatives. The Australian Labor Party (ALP)—led by Mark Latham—elected 60 lawmakers.

In 2005, Howard developed and passed a series of industrial relations reforms. The proposals—which came into effect in March 2006—include expanding the use of individual contracts, establishing a commission to review wage increases, and abolishing unfair dismissal protection for close to 3.6 million workers. 48 per cent of respondents believe the laws are bad for creating jobs, and only 13 per cent say they are personally better off with the changes.

On Apr. 3, Howard discussed the legislation, saying, "These workplace relations changes are very important to our economic future. That is my belief, and that belief won't change. (The ALP) will be heavily influenced by the unions, there's no argument about that."

Current ALP leader Kevin Rudd disagreed with the prime minister, declaring, "I'll spell out the principles which will underpin an alternative industrial relations system, and the timing of that we've yet to settle. (...) People from the unions can say what they like. I'll determine the timing of that as I judge it to be appropriate."

The next legislative election is tentatively scheduled for late 2007.

Polling Data

Thinking now about industrial relations, the federal government's changes to Australia's industrial relations system, which it has called Workchoices, were introduced from March 2006. Overall, do you think these changes to industrial relations are good or bad for the Australian economy?

	Apr. 2007	Apr. 2006	Oct. 2005
Very good	11%	10%	8%
Somewhat good	21%	23%	23%
Neither	4%	4%	3%
Somewhat bad	25%	21%	18%
Very bad	26%	27%	22%
Uncommitted	13%	13%	25%

Overall, do you think these changes to industrial relations are good or bad for creating jobs?

	Apr. 2007	Apr. 2006	Oct. 2005
Very good	11%	10%	8%
Somewhat good	22%	22%	22%
Neither	4%	6%	6%
Somewhat bad	25%	19%	20%
Very bad	23%	26%	19%
Uncommitted	15%	17%	25%

How do you think the changes to industrial relations affect you personally? Do you think you are better or worse off?

	Apr. 2007	Apr. 2006	Oct. 2005
A lot better off	5%	4%	4%
A little better off	9%	10%	7%
Neither	47%	47%	44%
A little worse off	15%	14%	15%
A lot worse off	18%	16%	7%
Uncommitted	5%	9%	13%

Source: Newspoll / The Australian
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,154 Australian voters, conducted from Mar. 30 to Apr. 1, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.