In the wake of the review of the Queensland IR Act, the Crisafulli Government has introduced legislation that enables the IR minister to terminate industrial action if it serves the public interest, prohibits workers from taking industrial action during conciliation or arbitration, and creates a new "fit and proper person" test for union officials.
One of the CFMEU's most controversial officials has had his state entry permit revoked, after an IR tribunal full bench used new laws to revisit his lengthy criminal history and consider threats last year to "rip out the heart" of a sub-contractor's representative.
Newly-introduced NSW legislation would require employers to ensure that their use of artificial intelligence, algorithms and automation does not risk worker health and safety, including by creating excessive workloads and performance metrics or unreasonably monitoring workers.
In its first sitting week, Queensland's Crisafulli Government has "rammed through" legislation to reduce health and safety permit holders' entry rights, to address what it says is the CFMEU's "weaponisation of workplace health and safety", and introduced legislation to re-establish the State productivity commission.
WA's Cook Labor Government has introduced legislation to lift casual loading from 20% to 25%, give some workers an enforceable right to request flexibility, and empower the IRC to discipline industrial agents, but it continues to lag on portable LSL.
Boosted delegates' rights will make workplaces more cooperative, potentially increasing productivity and workers' openness to new technologies such as artificial intelligence, according to a report that also warns unions not to fall into a trap with their paid training leave win.
Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke says that talks about introducing a right to disconnect have shifted away from fines for offending employers and towards an "absolute ban" on them penalising workers who disengage outside working hours.
Interested parties have until next Thursday to comment on a draft timetable to deliver on the Closing Loopholes legislative requirement that, from June 30, all awards contain a term setting out expanded rights for workplace union delegates.
The underpayment of migrant workers significantly worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a large Unions NSW audit revealing 88% of a sample of foreign language job ads in the state offered below award wages.
