The implications of today's High Court decisions affirming the primacy of contractual terms in determining employment relationships are "extremely concerning, perhaps even frightening" for those concerned about the integrity of the IR system, an academic says.
The High Court has affirmed the primacy of contractual terms in determining employment relationships, finding a construction worker was an employee of a labour hire company and that two truck drivers were independent contractors despite decades of exclusive service to a solitary business.
The FWC has thrown out a lawyer's general protections claim against the Victoria Building Authority, finding it did not force her to leave by demoting her but rather that she resigned after making a "rational decision" to accept more secure employment.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese today led apologies for the "unacceptable history" of workplace bullying, s-xual harassment and s-xual assault in Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces.
Victoria's Andrews Labor Government will employ 2000 additional public school teachers, reduce face-to-face teaching hours and boost pay by 2% a year under a four-year deal struck with the AEU, but in NSW unions are holding out for a 10% to 15% raise.
Patrick Terminals says the four-year in-principle agreement it has struck with the MUA removes "restrictive recruitment conditions", while delivering "other much-needed flexibilities" for its four container terminals, while the MUA says it has received "assurances" on job security and has won pay rises of 2.5% or CPI, whichever is greater.
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.
