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National Farmers' Federation

Statement on delay of IR Bill

Comments attributable to NFF Chief Executive, Tony Mahar

We thank the Coalition and members of the Senate crossbench who today pumped the brakes on the Government’s ill-conceived industrial relations bill.

The Senate and the Australian public deserve the opportunity to review and debate what is little more than a union wish list that will do nothing for Australia’s productivity.

The additional time granted today will improve the integrity of this important policymaking process.

Despite Minister Burke’s lame and misguided attempt to fudge the numbers in the Parliament today, those who know anything about the agriculture sector know many of these measures will impact the farm sector in some way including through the supply chain resulting in higher costs. 

This includes more than 500 agricultural businesses on enterprise agreements registered on the Fair Work Commission website which will need to look closely at how ‘Same Job, Same Pay’ laws will impact their individual enterprises.