ABCC prosecutes workers over industrial action at Lake Cowal gold mine; AMWU's Cameron confirmed for Senate seat; Police officer loses post-traumatic stress damages claim; AWA lodgements to be litmus test for effectiveness of safety net changes: Peetz; Your Rights at Work supporters fund full-page ad in national newspaper; Victorian Government to introduce new outworker protection laws; and Boeing wins extension of discrimination exemption.
Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey has today admitted the Federal Government got it wrong when it allowed employers to take away award entitlements without compensation, while a joint Liberal and National party room meeting has approved his new safety net legislation, clearing the way for it to be introduced into parliament.
The ACTU has accused Employment Advocate Peter McIlwain of failing to comply with the Workplace Relations Regulations by not providing information on AWAs to the Workplace Relations Minister.
The Federal Government has spent $4.1 million on buying advertising space for its IR ads over six days this week, plus $472,195 for full-page newspaper ads on May 5 and 6 on the changes to Work Choices, a Senate Estimates Committee has been told.
Corporate employers in NSW not covered by preserved state awards or agreements will have to ensure their employment conditions don't disadvantage under-18 employees or face the risk of prosecution, after a NSW IRC full bench today found that employers were using Work Choices agreements to exploit children in "a most unconscionable way".
The Government's amendments to boost the safety net under Work Choices will be introduced into federal parliament next Monday, Prime Minister John Howard said today.
AIRC Commissioner Ken Bacon has today revoked his decision last week that would have denied high-income workers on preserved state awards or agreements the right to make unfair dismissal claims under Work Choices.
Finance Minister Nick Minchin has not responded to repeated inquiries from Senate President Paul Calvert about the funding of the Federal Government's $55 million advertising campaign for Work Choices in 2005/06, a Senate Estimates committee heard today.
Key planks of the ALP's IR policy carry "substantial economic risk" and would impose "compulsory" collective bargaining on employers, according to the Ai Group.
In a decision which, if it stands, will exclude higher-income workers who were on state awards or agreements prior to Work Choices from making unfair dismissal claims, the AIRC has ruled that a NAPSA is not an award for unfair dismissal purposes.
