Government senators on the inquiry into the religious discrimination bills have recommended it pass with minor amendments, and say it should be the role of future governments to "monitor the impacts" of contentious provisions allowing "statements of belief" and overriding state-based protections against discrimination in employment by faith-based bodies.
The Attorney-General's Department has revealed that it has prepared a draft report on harmonisation of labour hire laws using "best practice elements in existing schemes" across the states and territories.
A senior Attorney-General's official has denied that the department failed to comply with its obligation to act with "honesty and integrity" when it asserted in the Religious Discrimination Bill's explanatory memorandum that the "statements of belief" provisions had no effect on other laws.
Fair Work Commission President Iain Ross told IR Minister Michaelia Cash that if Deputy President Lyndall Dean repeated her misconduct when she made contentious anti-vaccination comments in a September decision, it would be time to consider removing her from office.
The newly-announced review of the 1973 Maternity Leave Act provides an opportunity for the Federal Government to resume its role as a pacesetter, according to Sydney University's Professor Marian Baird.
The Productivity Commission will begin consulting next month on its inquiry into the "long-term structural issues" affecting productivity on the waterfront, which requires it to consider "operational costs drivers, including industrial relations", according to Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.
The National Farmers' Federation has called on the Federal Government to refer maritime industrial disputes straight to the FWC for arbitration, as one of several moves to improve international freight supply chains.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has pledged to intervene if the MUA resumes protected strikes at Patrick stevedores this month, while taking longer-term action on restrictive content imposed by the union in enterprise agreements.
The Australian Human Rights Commission has recommended an independent body be established to enforce parliamentary codes of conduct after a third of staffers responding to its workplace review reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment.
