30 July 2012, 300712, business, favour employers, favour workers, IR laws, workers and unions
Q. Business groups have said that Australia’s industrial relations laws favour workers and unions and should be changed so that businesses can increase productivity and have more flexibility with their workforce. Do you think Australia’s industrial relations laws favour employers or workers or do they balance the interests of workers and employers?
|
6 Feb 12 |
Total 30 Jul 12 |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Full time workers |
Part time workers |
|
| Favour employers |
25% |
20% |
25% |
16% |
33% |
22% |
16% |
| Favour workers |
24% |
26% |
12% |
43% |
14% |
29% |
24% |
| Balance the interests of employers and workers |
34% |
34% |
49% |
26% |
26% |
33% |
37% |
| Don’t know |
17% |
20% |
13% |
15% |
26% |
17% |
23% |
Respondents were divided over whether Australia’s industrial relations laws favour employers or workers – 20% think they favour employers, 26% favour workers and 34% think they balance the interests of both.
Labor voters are more likely to think they balance workers and employers interests (49%) while Liberal/National voters are more likely to think they favour workers (43%). Only 12% of Labor voters and 14% of Greens voters think the laws favour workers.