The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) supported the Senate crossbenchers’ demand to split the federal government’s controversial industrial relations (IR) bill to speed up the passage of its non-contested provisions.

Senators David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie will bring forward in private members’ bills the retailers-supported components of the IR draft legislation.

“Remaining provisions, such as redefining casual work and the proposed reforms to labour hire arrangements threaten to hinder productivity, increase complexity and limit the creation of secure jobs,” said ARA CEO Paul Zahra.

“While this legislation has a range of problematic proposals – not just for retailers but the broader workplace relations landscape – there are a number of sensible, admirable proposals that we support.”

Zahra added that employers and businesses back the private members’ bills being moved by the two senators as the IR bill, if passed in its current form, would result in uncertainty and higher operating costs without any significant benefit.

“Splitting this bill allows for reasonable measures such as family and domestic violence protections, workplace health and safety changes and small business redundancy exemptions to be implemented swiftly, while flawed components of the bill are sent back to the drawing board,” he stated.