New Australian workplace laws survive challenge

Australia's highest court dismissed a challenge to Prime Minister John Howard's new workplace laws that give companies more scope to negotiate with workers on pay, leave and bonuses.

The High Court of Australia yesterday dismissed the challenges in a 5-2 vote.

Five state governments and labour unions claimed the laws breached the constitution.

The laws, introduced in March, made holidays, meal breaks and work hours negotiable. They also abolished a centralised system of setting wages, allowed workers to cash out leave entitlements and companies to stand down workers because of a natural disaster or industrial action.