Unions say they are "more than willing" to work with Malcolm Turnbull on putting innovation at the heart of the economy.
But ACTU boss Dave Oliver says any change needs to avoid the "low road" of cutting penalty rates and undermining working conditions, and take the "high road" of collaboration between unions, employers and government.
Mr Oliver told a workforce and productivity summit in Melbourne on Tuesday the high road had worked in the past.
"We have had a stop-start process which lurched from engagement to all-out conflict, depending on the particular ideological perspective held by the government of the day," Mr Oliver said.
"Unions are sick of this approach and I know business is too. Now we have the opportunity to change."
However, he said the new focus on flexibility and agility should not be code for cutting wages.
"The challenge ... is to harness the technological opportunities and make them work for, rather than against, workers' best interests," Mr Oliver said.
As the government awaits advice from the Productivity Commission on penalty rates, Mr Oliver said the percentage of people working only Monday to Friday had dropped by just one per cent over the past 15 years to 69 per cent.
"The PC report is due to come down with its recommendation to reduce penalty rates - the low road," Mr Oliver said.
"The test for Malcolm Turnbull is whether he can deliver his cabinet and his government to take the high road and not let them drag him down, back to the Tony Abbott low road."
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