Commissioner Stuart Wood KC, addressing today's initial hearing for his inquiry into the CFMEU in Queeensland, expressed his gratitude for the "unsolicited written commitment" from union administrator Mark Irving KC to cooperate with the probe.
The inquiry into the CFMEU construction division's Queensland branch is set to begin its public proceedings next week in Brisbane with an opening statement from Commissioner Stuart Wood KC and an address from senior counsel assisting, Liam Kelly KC.
With the FWC seeking feedback by early next month on whether to hold off on reviewing its insertion of right to disconnect terms into awards, a leading employment and IR barrister and former critic of the legislation says the lack of test cases is "remarkable".
Silk Liam Kelly, who has a strong background in commercial law, and two junior counsel have been appointed to assist Commissioner Stuart Wood KC's inquiry into the CFMEU construction and general division's Queensland branch
FWC President Adam Hatcher has conceded the tribunal can juggle only so many balls, placing on ice its scrutiny of potential gender bias in awards' overtime provisions after the publication of an internal research paper.
Queensland's Crisafulli Government will hold a commission of inquiry into the State branch of the CFMEU's construction division in the wake of a report concluding that its former leaders ran a "violent, cruel, misogynist" regime.
Former CFMEU construction and general division NSW branch leaders Darren and Michael Greenfield will return to court next month, after pleading guilty to receiving or soliciting corrupting benefits.
The Secure Jobs panel has lamented the effects of adversarialism on its review process and IR more generally, while it has backed the axing of the ABCC and ROC and called for the federal government to make earlier commitments to fund equal pay cases.
The Albanese Government should reconsider its approach to limiting fixed-term contracts, give the FWC discretion to forgo compulsory s448A post-PABO conferences, and expand protection against discrimination to cover menopause, according to a draft report of an independent review that has found the Secure Jobs reforms are operating effectively.
Compulsory post-PABO conferences further complicate an already onerous process, with little or no benefit, the ACTU, ANMF and CFMEU have told the review of the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act, while the Ai Group says the conferences are "often worthwhile" and can avert industrial action.
