The Morrison Government's Respect@Work legislation has now passed both houses of parliament, after the House of Representatives early this afternoon backed the legislation, as amended by the Senate yesterday.
The Morrison Government has relied on Pauline Hanson's One Nation to defeat Labor and Greens amendments to the Respect@Work legislation that would have imposed a positive duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent workplace sexual harassment.
The ACCI is urging employers to ratchet up workplace COVID-19 vaccinations after the Morrison Government agreed to cover compensation claims for the most serious adverse reactions.
The CPSU has stepped up its criticism of the Morrison Government's public sector wages policy, saying it demands that workers sign up to "unknown" pay rises beyond the first year of new enterprise deals.
The Morrison Government has refused to budge on employer calls to indemnify businesses that encourage workplace vaccinations and to provide federal support for those who mandate inoculations, while AMMA has warned of the looming "elephant in the room".
IR Minister and Attorney-General Michaelia Cash says a meeting this morning between government agencies, employers and unions will focus on how businesses can comply with COVID-19 work, health and safety obligations, "including without mandating the vaccine".
Unions are questioning gaps in government support payments for aviation workers engaged as labour hire or in receipt of Centrelink allowances, while Jetstar looks to have staved off a dispute over its ability to implement mid-roster stand downs.
The resource sector's peak body has backed Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins' call for the Morrison Government to include her "positive duty" recommendation in the Respect at Work legislation.
The Morrison Government will establish an independent complaints mechanism to handle sexual harassment, assaults and bullying in Federal parliamentary workplaces, while it is also considering "naming and shaming" MPs and senators who fail to undertake anti-harassment training.
