"Rather than inventing a new system, the Australian Greens would restore and update the powers of the Australian Industry Relations Commission (AIRC)," said Greens IR spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert today.

"The AIRC has served our nation well for decades. The quickest way to get our industrial relations system back on its feet and serving the interests of Australian workers is simply to reinstate the powers of the AIRC."

"The ALP are reinventing the wheel by proposing a new IR watchdog. Not only would it be much simpler to reinstate AIRC it would also ensure the result was a fair and equitable industrial relations system," said Senator Siewert.

"The Greens believe we should reinstate the powers of the AIRC of arbitration, minimum wage setting and hearing wage cases. We also believe that we should up grade its role to take responsibility for ensuring work-life balance issues are address in the work place-which will boost both productivity and quality of life."

"We need to update the powers of the AIRC for the 21 century," she said. "Work-life balance is one of the major issues facing workers and families - we need an IR system that delivers balance."

"This is a more efficient and effective way to get the system working in the interests of Australia's working families."

"Labor are compromising their IR policy to placate business - failing to restore the right to strike, undermining collective bargaining and not extending unfair dismissal laws to all workers," said Senator Siewert.

"We are not confident that their proposal will deliver on Mr Rudd's promises. It will comprise workers rights and undermine the chance of restoring a fair and just IR system," she concluded.