Unions representing police, nurses and ambulance officers have expressed strong reservations over the Turnbull Government's legislation to defend the role of volunteers in Victoria's Country Fire Authority, while Professor Andrew Stewart says parties might be able to readily sidestep the legislative restrictions via side deeds.
Australian Public Service Commissioner John Lloyd has responded to reports that APS agencies "mismanaged" the bargaining process in the wake of the FWC's recent Uniline decision on bargaining notices.
One Nation has flagged its support for the Senate inquiry into the controversial legislation aimed at restricting volunteer-related clauses in the enterprise agreement covering professional firefighters employed by Victoria's Country Fire Authority.
A Senate inquiry is seeking submissions next week on the bill introduced last week to protect the status of Country Fire Authority volunteers, while the ABCC and registered organisations bills re-introduced at the same time have again been sent to inquiries.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has today introduced the Coalition's bill to protect the role of Victorian Country Fire Authority's volunteer firefighters and reintroduced the ABCC and registered organisations bills that were the triggers for him calling a double dissolution election.
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott says the Turnbull Government can deliver on election promises such as re-establishing the ABCC, despite facing a "difficult parliament".
Victoria's volunteer firefighters will tomorrow revive their bid to block the Country Fire Authority from seeking approval for its new enterprise agreement.
The dispute at Victoria's Country Fire Authority is set to flare in coming weeks as the new CFA board considers whether to sign-off on a controversial enterprise agreement.
