Four-yearly award reviews to be scrapped

The Fair Work Commission will no longer be required to review awards every four years, under new draft laws.

The federal government on Wednesday introduced a bill to parliament that acts on a recommendation of the Productivity Commission to repeal the four-yearly review from January 2018.

Last week's decision by the commission to cut Sunday penalty rates for some workers was the result of one of those reviews.

The legislation will also allow the independent body to overlook minor procedural or technical errors when approving enterprise agreements.

A further change aims to clarify powers around the removal of Commission members following the controversy around vice-president Michael Lawler.

Cabinet minister Peter Dutton said the proposal had widespread support.

Labor unsuccessfully tried to delay business in the lower house to debate the bill immediately.

"We're not going to support some union-Labor stunt," Mr Dutton told MPs.