Labor sceptical of PM's workplace review

Labor frontbencher Katy Gallagher has questioned whether the Morrison government's planned review of the industrial relations system will be genuinely geared towards improving workers' rights.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed plans for a review, to be led by Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter, at a business event on Monday.

"Any changes in this area must be evidence-based, protect the rights and entitlements of workers and have clear gains for the economy and for working Australians," he said.

But Senator Gallagher said the coalition's track record on the issue - including the Howard government's WorkChoices reforms and the Abbott government's royal commission into unions - shows they can't be trusted.

"We've had a pretty blistering attack for the last six years whilst in government on unions, and a fair bit of union bashing going on," she told Sky News on Sunday.

"It's a bit hard for someone from my side of politics to sit there and listen to that and believe there is concern about workers' rights and conditions.

"History, form and practice would indicate that it's a pretty one-sided debate from the coalition."