The state, work and family in Australia

Abstract

The role of the state in work and family policies continues to attract attention. This article analyses Australia's changing workplace relations regime, specifically policies relating to flexibility rights and maternity and parental leave, to illustrate the course of the state's exit and entry in matters of employment relations and human resource management. These policies are not only selected for their topicality, but also because they are closely related to the way in which the state, through legislation and setting the social contract, impacts on the supply and flexibility of human resources. The argument is that the state's influence is clearly felt in human resource management, either by the abstention of the government from certain policy areas or by its presence in those areas. Although the current Labor government has introduced new policies to address the tensions faced by 'working families', the government will continue to face pressure to develop these polices further, as social expectations and changing demographics continue to place pressure on the supply of labour and human resource management in Australia.

Keywords:

• flexibility
• gender relations
• maternity leave
• parental leave
• social contract
• work and family

Notes

1. Kevin Rudd was the Prime Minister at time of writing; the Prime Minister is now Julia Gillard but the issue remains the same.

2. The State of Victoria had already, in 1996, transferred its labour powers to the federal government.

3. The peak body of the Australian union movement.

4. Employees have had access to some flexibility through anti-discrimination law and carer's leave entitlements under separate State jurisdictions.

5. ACT Government – 5/5/09; BHP – 8/5/09 (Workplace Express 08 May 2009 4:46 pm).