As plans for a national portable entitlements scheme remain in limbo, the NT's Finocchiaro Government has repealed legislation that would have extended portable long service leave to the community services sector, arguing that it would result in increased fees for parents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.
The Victorian Government, the State's Trades Hall and the ASU are calling for the Albanese Government to stick to its pre-election commitment to enact a carve-out in the Closing Loopholes Bill so that state wage theft laws can continue to operate.
State Labor governments intervening in a High Court constitutional challenge to Victoria's wage theft laws are arguing there is no inconsistency with the Fair Work Act that could void a criminal prosecution, in a case coinciding with the Albanese Government's plan to introduce federal sanctions of up to 10 years in prison and maximum fines of $8 million.
A majority of Australia's governments have today agreed to incorporate industrial manslaughter provisions in the national model OHS laws, while they unanimously backed an immediate start to preparatory work for a ban on manufactured stone products linked with silicosis and other lung diseases.
The NT is planning to impose a positive duty on employers to eliminate discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation, while it also intends to expunge an exemption that permits religious schools to discriminate against LGBTIQ+ teachers.
