Morrison government will push on with IR reform even if unions and employers can't agree

Prime minister extends an olive branch by ditching union-busting legislation, but there are sharp differences in priorities

The Morrison government could push ahead with industrial relations changes even if the unions and employers are unable to bridge the sharp differences in their priorities to reach a consensus on reform, the attorney general has said.

On Wednesday Christian Porter told ABC's 7.30 the government wants as much agreement as possible" from five industrial relations consultation groups but the prime minister had asked him to develop a product ... out of every working group", which may involve legislation.