Industrial Legislation in 2003

Despite the promise of cataclysmic change, 2003 saw very few, and very moderate reforms to industrial laws. The great debates about a unitary industrial relations system, greater legal discipline for the building and construction industry, paid maternity leave, compulsory individual contracts in the higher education sectorleft no lasting footprints in 2003. The most significant reform, achieved at the very end of the year, was the enactment of more safety net protection for Victorian workers. Otherwise, legislative change represented small incremental steps. This review notes the highlights from the years debates, and explains the changes that were actually introduced