Pocock, Lambie push to split “straightforward” measures covering small business from Labor’s IR reforms package

Senate crossbenchers David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie are attempting to split the government’s industrial relations reform package, arguing uncontroversial changes affecting small businesses should not be lumped in with measures likely to be debated well into the new year.

The pair introduced a suite of private senators’ bills for consultation on Tuesday, in a bid to separate four proposed measures currently contained within the contentious Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023.

That bill is the source of major contention between the government and small business representatives, who argue changes covering everything from wage theft criminalisation to new ’employee-like’ rules could constrain local employers.