Government announces public sector bargaining reforms

The Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, today announced reforms to the enterprise bargaining framework for the Australian Public Service to facilitate new agreements being made quickly and efficiently.
 

Minister Cash said the Government is committed to sensibly and responsibly concluding bargaining for new enterprise agreements.
 

“The Community and Public Sector Union and others have run a misleading campaign against the Government’s bargaining policy, but have not put forward any solutions that would advance agreement making,” Minister Cash said.
 

“Instead, the CPSU and others have stuck to their unaffordable and unworkable claims.”
 

Under the revised framework, agency heads will be provided with more flexibility to conclude bargaining quickly and deliver new enterprise agreements that support the modern and agile public service that Australia needs.
 

Agencies will be able to offer wage increases averaging up to 2 per cent per annum, with costs to be met within existing budgets.
 

“The Australian public expects the public sector to be flexible and responsive to changing demands,” Minister Cash said.
 

“These reforms will enable employees to receive modest wage increases quickly and still see taxpayers benefit from productivity gains.”
 

The Government has engaged with the Public Service Commissioner, Mr John Lloyd, who will work with agency heads to implement the revised framework.