Business groups single out buried amendment in proposal seeking to ease Fair Work Commission's workload

Two of Australia's most influential business groups have condemned a measure buried inside the federal government's latest industrial relations legislation, warning it could corrupt public procurement.

The Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No. 1) Bill 2026, introduced into the Federal Parliament on Tuesday, contains a provision allowing the Commonwealth government to preference enterprise agreements negotiated in good faith and genuinely agreed with unions, where appropriate to do so.

The government, however, stressed that the Commonwealth will not be obligated to do this, noting that how and when it would be appropriate to do so is being considered as part of the development of the Secure Australian Jobs Code.

The government has framed the measure as part of a broader reform package primarily aimed at helping the Fair Work Commission (FWC) manage a surge in applications driven by artificial intelligence and paid agents.

Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth said the bill would help the FWC "allocate its time and resources more efficiently so it can continue to effectively perform its vital role as our national independent workplace relations tribunal."

Concerning procurement provision

But business groups moved swiftly to separate the procurement provision from the rest of the package, arguing it represents...

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