- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
- Air Quality
- Animal Welfare
- Arts
- Asbestos
- Biodiversity
- Biofuels
- Bushfire Risk Management
- Children and young people
- Climate Change and Energy
- Coal and Coal Seam Gas
- Coastal management
- Coastal Sand mining and extraction
- Disabilities
- Drugs and harm minimisation
- Early Childhood Education
- Education
- Electoral and Funding Reform
- Environment Impact Assessment and Pollution Control
- Estuary
- Firearms
- Forests
- Gaming Machines
- Genetic Engineering in Food and Crops
- Genetically Engineered Organisms in Production of Pharmaceuticals
- Health
- Heritage
- Housing
- Industrial relations
- Industry
- Justice
- Juvenile Justice
- Local Government
- Marine Environment
- Multiculturalism
- National Parks
- Older People
- Planning and Infrastructure
- Public Ownership
- Public Sector Social and Environmental Responsibility
- Recreation and Sport
- Regional Development
- Rural Land Use
- Rural young people
- Sexuality and Gender Identity
- Social Equity
- Tourism
- Transport
- Voluntary Euthanasia
- Waste Elimination
- Water (rural and agricultural)
- Water (urban)
- Wetlands
- Women
- Work
- Worker's Compensation
Policy Summary
To read the full details of the Greens NSW Industrial Relations Policy click the orange download button on the right
Workplace justice
The Greens believe that a strong and vibrant union movement is a central component of a healthy democracy. Without the protection of a trade union, the remuneration and working conditions of all workers, and particularly the less powerful, are diminished by the economic and industrial power of employers.
The Greens totally opposed the Howard government’s industrial legislation, especially ‘WorkChoices’, which undermined the quality of human relations and human life. We are also committed to using the state industrial relations system wherever possible to provide a shelter for unions and working people from the damaging aspects of the federal system. The Greens opposed Australian Workplace Agreements and other attempts to divide working people.
The Greens also support improved rights for injured workers, and will continue to campaign for just levels of compensation to allow people injured at work to live with dignity. Our vision for the future is based on a more equitable sharing of incomes. We will work towards an industrial environment characterised by increased employment security and a shorter working week. We aim to reduce working hours for the overworked while increasing total pay and hours for the under-employed and the unemployed.
The Greens are committed to:
- legislation to protect as many workers as possible from ‘WorkChoices’, including public servants, employees of state corporations and local councils and government contractors;
- protect the rights of injured workers to receive full compensation for workplace injuries;
- recognising the role of unions in maintaining fair working conditions and remuneration;
- the right of unions and unionists to take industrial action without legal impediment, to protect and promote their legitimate workplace interests;
- collective bargaining and a strong award system protecting the remuneration and working conditions of all workers;
- independent state and federal Industrial Relations Commissions;
- greater security of employment for all workers;
- a shorter working week, including reduced working hours for the over-worked, without reductions in overall pay and increased hours for the under-employed or unemployed; and
- legislative protection of casual workers and piece-workers from exploitation.
