Industrial reforms at risk as talks between unions and employer groups break down

Christian Porter will choose reforms without agreement of all parties after negotiations descended into acrimony

Direct negotiations between Australian unions and employer groups have broken down, dimming hopes that a package of industrial relations reforms could be agreed by consensus.

In a statement on Thursday, the Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus blasted some employer groups who she said had failed to respect the secrecy of talks and had pursued cuts to workers' pay and conditions.