Western Australia has experienced the lowest number of working days lost through industrial disputes since 1969, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Productivity and Labour Relations Minister Yvonne Henderson said today's ABS figures were further proof of the success of the State Government's consultative and co-operative approach to industrial relations.
Mrs Henderson said the bureau's figures revealed that 53,800 working days were lost in WA over the 12 months to the end of July.
This was the lowest result over a 12-month period since April 1969.
For the 12 months to July 1992, WA recorded a 70 per cent decrease in working days lost. For the same period there were 100 lost days per 1,000 employees.
Mrs Henderson said there had been a vast improvement in days lost through industrial disputes since Labor came to power in WA.
"The average number of days lost each year over the nine years of Labor is 130,800," Mrs Henderson said.
"Compare this with the average for the last nine years of the conservative government, when it was almost double - 221,600.
"The Labor Government's workplace reform and industrial reform is proving successful.
"Since 1983 we have achieved major reforms - adopting a more flexible labour relations system that enhances efficiency and equity.
"The reforms have been achieved without massive disruption and disputation - unlike the approach taken in Victoria and likely in WA if a Liberal government were elected."
Mrs Henderson said co-operation at all levels was essential to maintain the strength of the expanding WA economy.
The Government's emphasis was on non-adversarial labour relations, with genuine participation by the parties in the decision-making and enterprise agreements to reward increased productivity.
"Productivity enhancement is the key element in the State's economic development strategy and we have been making good progress," Mrs Henderson said.
"ABS statistics show that over the past ten years WA's growth in labour productivity has been higher than the Australian average - 1.8 per cent compared with 1.1 per cent.
"Clearly the figures show that the consultative approach to industrial relations which has been adopted by the State Government is returning major benefits to industry and the economy as a whole.
"Yet the Liberal Party does not recognise this, producing an alarming policy that would lead to the disruption that Victoria is starting to experience under the Kennett Government."
