Australian industrial relations in 2016

Abstract

This article introduces the Journal of Industrial Relations Annual Review of Industrial Relations in 2016. It first discusses key industrial relations developments over the past year in Australia, with a particular focus on the federal election and its aftermath. The article then examines the growing challenges relating to inequality in the Australian labour market and the declining effectiveness of industrial relations actors and institutions in addressing these challenges. It then considers the implications for Australian industrial relations of two seismic international political developments over the past year heralding the ascent of a protectionist policy paradigm: the UK’s ‘Brexit’ referendum and Donald Trump’s election as US President. Finally, the article provides an overview of the articles contained in the Annual Review issue.