IR reform - spin can't hide attack on families

Apart from a few empty assertions, there is no explanation in the document about how any of the new measures will improve productivity.

That's probably because all the academic and econometric research suggests that collective agreement-making - especially that involving well-organised unions - is associated with higher productivity growth than individual contracts.

The government refuses to enter into this economic debate about productivity. By exerting downward pressure on incomes - particularly at the lower end of the labour market - the changes will simply shift more money to profits rather than wages.

The document released yesterday reveals the government's real agenda - that is, to weaken the union movement. Further prohibitions and tougher penalties are planned in relation to union activity, including the completely unworkable requirement of formal secret ballots for industrial action.

The document is full of signs of anti-employee bias.

No amount of political lipstick the government applies can hide the facts about its industrial changes.

They are unfair for workers and are designed to cut wages in favour of profits. They will be bad for families and our community life. And they will do nothing to improve the productivity needed for economic growth.