Briefly --- thanks in part to the structurally asymmetrical labour market, up until the 1970s the Australian labour movement had a long and unique history of political strength, which had resulted --- inter alia --- in very high wage levels and the "arbitration system" of centralised, judicial wage fixing and dispute resolution, at both the federal and state levels. This obstruction for capital was solved in a unique way: unlike most countries, it was the main centre-left party which introduced neo-liberal policies here, and the federal Labor [sic, sic, sic] governments of the 1980s and 90s were the first to succeed in rolling back the arbitration system, especially centralised wage fixing, standard working hours, overtime rates, etc. Deregulation has continued steadily since.
Regards,
Grant.