Australia could face disaster if major steps aren't taken to address changes to the future of work, an inquiry has found.
A Labor-chaired Senate committee has called for an overhaul of industrial relations laws and creation of a new government body addressing the future of work in Australia.
The central body would have to develop policies for ensuring a positive future of employment for at-risk workers.
The upper house committee was led by Labor senator Murray Watt, who urged the government to take action.
"The changes that are facing the Australian workplace and Australian workers are so great that sitting back and letting it all happen to us is a recipe for disaster," Senator Watt told parliament.
"Hope is not a strategy, we have to take action."
The report said workers in the so-called gig economy, like Uber drivers, should be officially recognised as workers under the law, ensuring they have full access to protections.
It recommended legislation to extend workers' and trade unions' rights to collectively bargain.
Sham contracting and employment arrangements which classify dependent workers as independent contractors should be stamped out and labour hire workers covered by a national licensing scheme.
The report also recommends legislation requiring employers to consult more with unions and workers about the introduction of new technology.
Liberal senators Ian Macdonald and Amanda Stoker wrote a dissenting report accusing Labor of missing an opportunity to address one of Australia's key challenges.
"Regrettably the majority of the committee negated this opportunity and simply turned the inquiry into a union-directed Labor election campaign exercise," the government senators said.
The Liberals said the final report had regurgitated the usual union wish list.
"Rather than focusing on this more positive and aspirational narrative, the chair's report is focused on industrial relations and labour hire practices," senator Macdonald and Stoker said.
"This would seem to miss the point, and seems to be a political exercise by the union movement."
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