Improve the safety and fairness of workplaces, and continue detailed consultation with key industries.
The Government will provide $27.4 million over 4 years from 2023-24 (and $1.1 million per year ongoing) to improve the safety and fairness of workplaces, and continue detailed consultation with key industries. Funding includes: * $20.0 million over two years from 2023-24 to increase to the Productivity, Education and Training Fund, to support engagement and practical activities of worker and employer representatives with workplace reforms as they progress and the implementation of the Government's Workplace Relations agenda * $4.4 million over 4 years from 2023-24 (and $1.1 million per year ongoing) to establish the National Construction Industry Forum including representatives from key employer groups, unions and government to provide advice on major challenges facing the building and construction industry including workplace relations, industry culture, skills and training, safety, gender equality and productivity * $2.0 million over two years from 2023-24 to develop a targeted training package on workplace psychosocial hazards, to be provided to organisations that train health and safety representatives in the Commonwealth jurisdiction Employment and Workplace Relations | * $0.8 million in 2023-24 to conduct a review of modern awards in the context of new gender equality and job security objects and the updated modern awards and minimum wages objectives in the Fair Work Act 2009, the review will also consider opportunities to make awards simpler to use * $0.3 million in 2023-24 for a specialist review into the operations of the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman. The Government is continuing its comprehensive consultation with stakeholders on the implementation of election commitments and Jobs and Skills Summit outcomes to close loopholes in the workplace relations system, including the Same Job, Same Pay principle, the regulation of employee-like forms of work, and legislating a fair, objective definition of casual employment. The Government will also engage with stakeholders to explore the design and implementation of a national labour hire licensing scheme in Australia. The cost of this measure will be met from savings identified in the 2023-24 Budget measure titled Employment and Workplace Relations - reprioritisation. This measure builds on the 2022-23 October Budget measures titled Outcomes of the Jobs and Skills Summit and Secure Australian Jobs.