Australian Compulsory Arbitration— Some Proposed Modifications

The debate about the merits and demerits of Australia's unique industrial relations arrangements is as old, or older, than those arrangements themselves. This paper will take the view that those advocating substantial change in the system have won the day, at least in terms of the intellectual debate, and that it is now time to consider a major overhaul of Australian industrial relations institutions. The attempt here will be to move the debate into the area of specific policy recommendations. First, there will be a very brief review of the arguments for changing the system. This will be followed by an evaluation of precisely what goals we ought to expect a well-functioning industrial relations system to attain. Finally, suggestions will be offered on possible alterations to our industrial relations institutions and an assessment made of the likely costs of such changes.