A review of Comcare's legislative framework says there is no choice but to redraft it, and warns AI, WFH and climate change "megatrends" all carry a risk of increasing psychological injury claims, while unions say workers compensation changes in NSW will cut support to those who are close to "catatonic" with such injuries.
Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth has engaged a former long-serving FWC member to review the Albanese Government's Closing Loopholes reforms.
Former CFMEU construction and general division Queensland branch leaders Michael Ravbar and Jade Ingham directed membership payments to the state-registered union rather than the federally-registered entity, leaving members without voting power, in a move that might have been intended to "create an impregnable fiefdom into which the national organisation could not reach", administrator Mark Irving KC said today.
The Wood inquiry into the CFMEU's activities in Queensland will put construction division administrator Mark Irving KC on the stand in a hearing this week.
Queensland's Crisafulli Government is removing the former Labor administration's best practice pay and conditions procurement guidelines for new State-funded construction projects, following the release of a State productivity commission report, while the Wood inquiry has appointed new counsel assisting, ahead of its first substantive hearings.
The Wood inquiry into the CFMEU construction and general division in Queensland has set down two tranches of hearings, as it rebuilds its counsel assisting team after a string of resignations.
Commissioner Stuart Wood KC, addressing today's initial hearing for his inquiry into the CFMEU in Queensland, 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
