Australian federal election: Liberal Party plans on worker rights

The Liberal Party’s industrial policy is being shaped by the HR Nicholls Society, a think tank that drafts radical industrial relations policies while posing as an independent body. Their agenda? A full-scale attack on workers' wages, safety, and rights.

Cutting wages for 20% of Australian workers

Currently, 2.7 million workers rely on minimum Award rates. The HR Nicholls plan seeks to abolish these industry-specific rates, cutting wages for one in five Australian workers..

Weakening collective bargaining

The plan also attacks wages and conditions for the other 80% of by eliminating industry Awards and forcing individuals to negotiate wages alone. This shift hands immense power to employers, worsening pay inequality—particularly for women and marginalised groups.

The plan also undermines union-negotiated Agreements, allowing bosses to pressure workers into accepting inferior conditions, and weakening collective bargaining across industries.

Allowing wage theft with no consequences

HR Nicholls dismisses the term “wage theft” and opposes holding employers accountable for underpaying staff. The report proposes a weak regulatory body that merely “educates” businesses on proper pay practices, allowing employers to underpay workers without fear of real penalties.

Blocking unions from protecting workers

They also seek to remove union “right of entry” laws, making it illegal for union representatives to inspect workplaces for safety breaches or assist workers. It even suggests prosecuting union officials under trespass and economic damage laws.

Additionally, the plan seeks to eliminate the rights of elected Reps in workplaces.

Exempting gig platforms from labour laws

The Liberals want companies like Uber and DoorDash to operate without Australia’s minimum wage and employment protections, leaving gig workers trapped in insecure jobs with no guaranteed pay or conditions.

Setting wages based on business interests, not worker needs

Instead of linking wages to the cost of living, the report wants to hand the power to set minimum wages and employment standards to the Productivity Commission—a body focused on boosting profits. A decade of productivity increase and declining wages under the last Coalition government shows that productivity gains don’t lead to higher wages; they simply increase corporate profits.

Undermining “Same Job, Same Pay” protections

The HR Nicholls plan opposes laws that ensure labour-hire workers receive the same pay as permanent employees for identical work. This would allow businesses to outsource jobs to cheaper contractors, increasing wage inequality.

Peter Dutton has already promised the mining sector he will overturn these protections.

Cutting redundancy pay and unfair dismissal protections

Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley has signalled the party’s willingness to weaken unfair dismissal laws. The HR Nicholls document goes even further, recommending that businesses with fewer than 50 employees be exempt from paying redundancy and that restrictions on unfair dismissal claims be tightened.

Slashing transport safety regulations

The HR Nicholls plan proposes removing oversight and regulation in the transport industry, allowing corporations like Amazon, Woolworths, and Coles to pressure truck drivers into unsafe working conditions—including excessive hours and skipped maintenance.

The choice for workers

After years of wage stagnation under Liberal governments, Australian workers are finally seeing improvements in pay and conditions. But Peter Dutton’s team is already planning attacks on workers’ rights within their first six months should they win office—cutting wages, weakening unions, and dismantling workplace protections.

Australian workers need real progress—not another round of right-wing ideology. Our rights are worth fighting for.