THE Liberals have refused to say whether they will release an industrial relations policy before the election - prompting the ACTU to compare its absence from the debate to the silence that preceded the 2004 introduction of WorkChoices.

Tony Abbott says what he won't change, but not what he will.

A Fair Work Australia full bench has rejected an employers' "technical and pedantic" challenge to an AMWU protected action ballot, saying that in most cases the drafting of ballot questions will be a matter for the party seeking them.

This is good news, as it increases the flexibility for workers to take legally protected industrial action to advance their interests.