On 15 February 2018, the Federal Government published the final report of former Fair Work Commission Senior Deputy President Matthew O’Callaghan into the greenfields agreement provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009.

Mr O’Callaghan has recommended that the mandatory six-month negotiation period with unions, before an employer can lodge a greenfields agreement with the Fair Work Commission for approval without union consent, should be reduced to three months. This is consistent with Ai Group’s submission to the review.

A number of initiatives to expedite the approval of greenfields agreements have also been proposed.

If you would like more information about preparing a greenfields agreement, please contact Ai Group’s Workplace Advice Service on 1300 55 66 77.

Alternatively, if you would like strategic advice in negotiating an enterprise agreement, please contact your local employment, workplace and industrial lawyer in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Melbourne or Brisbane or email Ai Group Workplace Lawyers at info@aigroupworkplacelawyers.com.au.