The Turnbull Government's threat of a double dissolution election is yet to convince crucial Senate crossbenchers to pass the ABCC and registered organisations bills next month.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is recalling both houses of parliament for a crunch vote on the bills to re-establish the ABCC and set up the Registered Organisations Commission, which is expected to pave the way for a double dissolution election.
Almost 2500 Dick Smith Electronics employees will lose their jobs, after the company's receivers announced this afternoon that they will close 301 stores in Australia after failing to find a buyer.
The Opposition has given notice that it will introduce a Private Member's Bill that would trigger a crackdown on underpayments, sham contracting and exploitation of temporary visa workers.
A court has taken an employer to task for making false representations to interns who were told their terms and conditions complied with minimum standards.
Key crossbench senators have sided with Labor and the Greens to delay a vote on legislation to re-establish the ABCC until at least the middle of March.
The FWO will enlist local employer groups in a three-month auditing blitz of more than 400 businesses in regions where workers are making "persistent" requests for assistance, including Perth, Adelaide and Dandenong.
The Federal Circuit Court has questioned why the FWBC chose not to prosecute the director of a phoenixed bricklaying company that failed to pay correct pay and entitlements to several "daily hire" workers.
A Roy Morgan Research subsidiary plans to take to the High Court its claim that payments to contractors should be taken to include all award entitlements, after a failed full court appeal that director Gary Morgan says has "massive implications" for other companies.