Tony Abbott has told tourism industry leaders that workplace laws would be revamped to make individual flexibility arrangements "more workable" under a Coalition government.

The comment gives a further glimpse at the Coalition's industrial relations policy, which the Opposition Leader says will be driven by practical problem solving, not ideology.

Speaking at a Tourism and Transport Forum lunch in Sydney on Wednesday, Mr Abbott accused Labor of making life more difficult for the industry, partly because of changes to industrial laws.

"Workplace relations changes over the last few years ... are making it harder for you to stay open on Sundays, after hours, on public holidays," he told the gathering.

He moved to reassure tourism chiefs the Coalition understood their concerns and would respond if it won government.

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

"You do need more flexibility in your workplace arrangements - individual flexibility agreements must be made more workable, and we will do that."

Many business groups, including the Australian Industry Group and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, are pushing for changes to Labor's Fair Work laws.

They are arguing for the need to increase workplace flexibility in order to boost productivity.

The Coalition has been quite guarded when questioned about its workplace relations policy, saying it will be revealed before the next election.

It is wary of the strong anti-WorkChoices campaign run by Labor and the unions, which prompted Mr Abbott to physically sign a pledge during the 2010 election declaring the policy of the former Howard government was "dead, buried, cremated".

Federal Industrial Relations Minister Bill Shorten pounced on Mr Abbott's comments.

He used social media to respond, and questioned whether the Coalition would take a sensible approach.

He also raised concerns about the impact of Coalition policy on penalty rates, overtime and unfair dismissal laws.