Regulation theory and Australian labour law: from antipodean Fordism to liberal-productivism

This paper employs the methodology of the Parisian Regulation Approach to periodise Australian political economy into distinct models of development. Within such models, labour law plays a key role in articulating the abstract capitalist need to commodify labour-power with the concrete realities of class struggle. Given the differential ordering of social contradictions and the distinct relationship of social forces within the fabric of each model of development, such formations will crystallise distinct regimes of labour law. This is demonstrated by a study of the two successive models of development which characterised Australian political economy since the post-World War II era; antipodean Fordism (1945-mid 1970s) and liberal-productivism (mid 1980s-present).