A changing of the guard: Enforcement of workplace relations laws since work choices and beyond

Soon after the Howard Government announced its industrial relations policy in 2005, concerns were raised that the 'deregulation' of workplace relations brought about by the Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) Act 2005 (Work Choices) would lead to exploitation of employees. In an attempt to silence its opponents and reassure the public, the Howard Government raised the profile of the federal enforcement agency by changing its institutional structure, boosting its funding and strengthening its litigation policy. Kevin Andrews, then Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, commented that the revitalised inspectorate was part of 'the most significant industrial compliance and enforcement regime ever introduced by an Australian government'.