Besides promising to repeal the carbon tax if the Opposition would win the 2013 election, Coalition leader Tony Abbott also vowed changes in work flexibility arrangements which would benefit Australia's tourism industry.

Under the proposed amendments, more individual flexible work arrangements would be allowed to reverse changes to industrial laws the past few years which made it harder for tourist establishments to stay open on Sunday, after hours and public holidays.

He said at a Tourism and Transport Forum lunch on Wednesday that he agrees with the proposal by tourism establishments and business group to amend the Fair Work laws to boost productivity.

"Workplace relations is very important to people in this sector, and we will move the workplace relations pendulum back to the sensible centre," ABC quoted Mr Abbott.

Mr Abbott stopped short of disclosing the Coalition's policy on workplace relations by saying it will be revealed before the next election. The safer stand is due to the Coalition's promise in the last election to work within the framework of Labor laws, while he called John Howard's Work Choices regime as dead, buried and cremated.

The Opposition has ruled out a return to individual statutory contracts, but said it will come up with practical solutions to workplace problems identified by businesses.

Among the changes that Labor introduced was the individual flexibility arrangement which has very restrictive clauses that unions often veto. The clauses could be cancelled after 28 days notice. The Opposition plans to extend the clause cancellation period to three years.

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