The Australian Labor government’s Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill has passed the Senate after a series of changes. It is now set to become law. In light of a dramatic fall in real wages, the legislation has been promoted by Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke as the best way “to get wages moving.” Labor Party prime minister Anthony Albanese spun his win in heroic terms on Friday, declaring that “today is a win for the heroes of the pandemic, the cleaners, the disability workers, the aged care workers, the early childhood educators.”

For months, big and small businesses alike attacked aspects of the bill as a return to the days of worker militancy. Over the past few days, a cast of far-right characters lined up to delay its passage in the Senate. With enemies likes these, it would be easy to take Burke and Albanese’s description of the bill at face value.

While the public debate has occasionally become heated, it’s far more accurate to say it’s been confusing. The Australian Industry Group (AIG) and Business Council of Australia (BCA) spoke passionately in favor of parts of the bill, and angrily against others. The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) claimed the legislation “will help ease the cost-of-living crisis by enabling workers to bargain for decent wage increases” but also admitted that such an outcome was impossible within the terms of the bill.