The Morrison Government's contentious Omnibus IR Bill has moved to the Senate after a day of increasingly splenetic exchanges between Coalition and ALP members, one independent describing the legislation as a "pathetic" example of supposed compromise.
The Opposition and unions have today sought to turn the spotlight onto the IR Omnibus Bill's changes to casual employment and enterprise bargaining, following the Morrison Government's decision to drop controversial changes to the Better Off Overall Test.
The ALP caucus today resolved to oppose the Morrison Government's Omnibus IR Bill in its entirety, in a major shift from the more cooperative approach taken towards emergency legislation last year at the height of the pandemic.
Just as the Morrison Government's Omnibus IR Bill says a casual will be defined on the basis of their job offer, rather than subsequent conduct, the labour hire company at the centre of a landmark casuals case has told the High Court employment contracts must be decisive.
Omnibus IR Bill inquiry to report in March; New inquiry into insecure employment; Submissions due in February for APS capability inquiry; Inquiry considering axing retired judges' pensions for past misconduct; and VACC seeking name change.
Labor's caucus has agreed today to support the Morrison Government's legislation to make it easier for unions to de-merge, which will enable the CFMMEU's mining and energy division to depart next year.
The Morrison Government's IR omnibus Bill will for the first time introduce a statutory definition of casual work as being employment that is offered without any "firm advance commitment" it will continue indefinitely and follow an agreed pattern of work.
