‘Small businesses should be exempt from unfair dismissal laws’. Critically discuss.

Aims and Objectives
Many issues in the field of industrial relations are contentious and likely to incite strong opinions and debate. Protection from unfair dismissal is one issue that has been prominent in policy debates over recent years, particularly in relation to the small business sector. This assessment encourages students to analyse the differing and often competing perspectives of industrial relations stakeholders on an issue of key importance to business, individuals and society at large.
This assessment encourages students to:
 Provide a critical perspective of the academic literature on a topic.
 Construct a sustained argument in response to the question.
 Utilise and conform to the principles of academic rigour in the production of an acceptable, formal response to the question.
The academic debate on unfair dismissal and small business was lively in the lead- up and during the period of WorkChoices, and is likely to re-ignite given the Productivity Commission’s review into the workplace relations framework, which includes the unfair dismissal laws.