Queensland's Crisafulli Government is removing the former Labor administration's best practice pay and conditions procurement guidelines for new State-funded construction projects, following the release of a State productivity commission report, while the Wood inquiry has appointed new counsel assisting, ahead of its first substantive hearings.
The NSW IRC last year received 36% more applications than in 2023, while cases finalised dropped by 16%, according to its latest annual report, which takes in the first six months of its renewed powers.
Silk Liam Kelly, who has a strong background in commercial law, and two junior counsel have been appointed to assist Commissioner Stuart Wood KC's inquiry into the CFMEU construction and general division's Queensland branch
A new FWC member's "secret weapon" to resolve disputes could be to "threaten" parties with a Spotify playlist that includes metal bands like My Dying Bride and Cradle of Filth, ACTU president Michele O'Neil has told a welcome ceremony.
A new FWC deputy president lauded as "the smartest person at Maurice Blackburn" and outed as a muscle car devotee has told a welcome ceremony of his surprise at briefly becoming the country's foremost legal expert on memes while representing a worker sacked for sharing a parody video.
A former Labor MP and current FWC deputy president has, after fending off another recusal application, dismissed claims it would be unfair, unreasonable or unconstitutional to grant same-job, same-pay orders lifting the pay of on-hire workers at a Whitehaven coal mine by up to $30,000 a year.
The Greens' longstanding IR spokesperson and leader, Adam Bandt has failed to retain his lower house seat, as counting continues from Saturday's federal election.
