In the latest public sector wage-cap fracture, Northern Territory public servants are weighing a 1% above-cap offer, in-line with a FWC recommendation, but still below the 15% NT police received.
In the wake of NT public sector employees rejecting a 3% a year wage offer, the Finocchiaro Government has escalated a bargaining dispute to the FWC, after baselessly accusing unions of supporting the previous Labor Government's wage cap, which the CLP at the time vehemently opposed.
Unions are urging NT public sector workers to vote down a 3% annual wage offer that complies with the Government's pay cap and reduces job security, after police voted up a record above-cap pay deal, raising questions about fairness.
The NT Anti-Discrimination Commission has warned that the Finocchiaro Government's legislation that reinstates the exemption for religious schools to discriminate in employment could lead to LGBTQ+ workers, women and workers of other faiths facing disciplinary action or dismissal.
As plans for a national portable entitlements scheme remain in limbo, the NT's Finocchiaro Government has repealed legislation that would have extended portable long service leave to the community services sector, arguing that it would result in increased fees for parents using childcare and would be too costly for the Government.
Labor-aligned think tank the McKell Institute has called for the Albanese Government to commit to establishing a national labour hire licensing scheme by the end of the year, in a new report commissioned by unions and Woolworths with the aim of protecting horticultural workers.
South Australia's Malinauskas Government is likely to soon secure passage of legislation establishing a portable long service leave scheme for the community services sector, with potential to build on it to include other sectors in future.
Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke intends to amend the Closing Loopholes No 2 legislation so that "employee-like" workers in the gig economy and in road transport cannot "double-dip" in the federal and state IR systems.
A leading IR legal expert says Victoria's selection as host jurisdiction for a harmonised labour hire licensing scheme and National Labour Hire Regulator is a "fitting reflection" of its contribution in recent years, but the industry peak body has expressed disappointment and surprise.
