Critics, including opposition leader Kim Beazley, fear that the proposed changes young vulnerabl... Australia’s Church Leaders
Critics, including opposition leader Kim Beazley, fear that the proposed changes young vulnerable workers will be the worst-affected and that the reforms compromise the rights and working conditions of employees and their families, as weekends and benefits are negotiated away.
Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, warned the parishes of his diocese Monday night of the dangers of the reform proposals, highlighting the “need for preserving shared time for children, families, relationships for all Australians”, reported The Sydney Morning Herald.
The President of the Uniting Church, the Rev Dr Dean Drayton, said the Government's proposed changes were more about choice for business than protecting the country's workers.
The Government's reforms, which emphasis individual bargaining between workers and bosses, will be introduced into Parliament in the week beginning October 31.
Prime Minister John Howard said yesterday that he was writing to church leaders and had met with the Anglican Primate, Archbishop Phillip Aspinall.
The executive officer of the Australian Catholic Commission for Employment Relations, John Ryan, however, said the new system did not appear to address fundamental concerns about “fairness and balance” and provided very limited safeguards, reported The Sydney Morning Herald.
Dr Ray Cleary of Anglicare reiterated these concerns: “Low-skilled workers, young people and those from non-English backgrounds would find it extremely difficult to negotiate in the same way that collective agreements are bargained for.
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