The nation’s largest and most representative business network, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is appearing before the Senate inquiry into the government’s industrial relations legislation today.

The committee hearing comes a day after the Senate voted to split the non-contentious aspects of the omnibus legislation.

“There is no reason that those non-contentious parts of the legislation should not be passed,” ACCI chief executive officer Andrew McKellar said.

“The government’s remaining ill-conceived changes to Australia’s industrial relations system are targeted at closing only one loophole: plummeting union membership.

“Changes to casual employment, labour hire, road transport laws, union delegate powers and the gig economy will stall Australia’s economy at a time when many workers and businesses are under extreme pressure.

“The word ‘productivity’ appears only twice in the so-called ‘Closing Loopholes’ bill. It is not a coincidence.

“These changes will inhibit future productivity growth, which is essential to the achievement of sustainable increases in real wages and to address the pressures of higher cost of living and costs affecting business.

“The bill does nothing to address those pressures and we oppose it in the strongest possible terms.”

Andrew McKellar’s opening statement to the inquiry can be found here.