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HIGH COURT HEARS CHALLENGE TO WORK CHOICES On May 4 2006 the full bench of the High Court began hearing the case by the states and territories, Unions NSW and the Australian Workers Union against the Federal Government’s new labour reforms. The case involved a record number of 39 counsel appearing in the High Court. Lasting for six days, the case focused not on the merits of the new legislation, but rather on whether the Commonwealth has the power to interfere in state industrial relations through its use of the constitutional corporations power under the Constitution. The states argued that the constitution did not support the extension of the corporations power to the regulation of the employer/employee relationship. However, the power has been interpreted in a broad fashion in previous decisions of the High Court. It is anticipated that the High Court will take several months to consider their decision.
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