Up tp 1.9 million self-employed Australians are facing changes that will:

• end contractor's existing minimum pay protections
• Outlaw restrictions on the numbers of labour-hire contractors companies can hire or the conditions that can be offered.
• Move disputes between contractors and their employers fromindustrial relations commissions to the courts.

Those in favour of the legislations argue that "market forces will dictate employment" wheras opponents of the legislation argue that it will create a new underclass wherre low-skilled contractors will have no bargaining power in pay negotiations and will lose protection of a minimum pay rate.

From BRW, October 20-26, 2005, pgs 14-16.