Govt pounces on Libs IR reform talk

The Gillard government has pounced on reports the coalition has been emboldened on workplace reform by the Health Services Union scandal.

Liberal MPs say a political shift is under way in coalition ranks to take on the government on industrial relations.

But there will be no return to Work Choices, the controversial IR regime of the Howard government, the MPs have told The Australian Financial Review.

Parliament secretary Mark Dreyfus says the move is very concerning, especially at a time of global uncertainty.

“They’re planning in private to strip away workers’ rights, to strip away penalty rates,” he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.

Mr Dreyfus said he did not think Australians wanted a return to “the bad old days” of Work Choices.

“But that is clearly what the Liberal Party is planning behind the closed doors in their party room.”

Treasurer Wayne Swan said Work Choices was in the DNA of the Liberal Party and its leader.

“Tony Abbott, when he was a minister in the Howard Government, set out to slash the wages and working conditions of Australians on low and middle incomes,” he told reporters in Canberra.

“That’s what Liberal governments do and I’m pleased to see that Mr Abbott has finally outed himself in the party room over the past couple of days.”

Treasurer Wayne Swan said Work Choices was in the DNA of the Liberal Party and its leader.

“Tony Abbott, when he was a minister in the Howard Government, set out to slash the wages and working conditions of Australians on low and middle incomes,” he told reporters in Canberra.

“That’s what Liberal governments do and I’m pleased to see that Mr Abbott has finally outed himself in the party room over the past couple of days.”

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