A labour law academic says there is a need to ask how Australia's IR system is so "fundamentally broken" that it incentivises the conduct evident in Qantas's decision to unlawfully outsource jobs to avoid bargaining, in circumstances where the record $90 million fine imposed yesterday will barely dent its resultant annual savings.
The Federal Court has today ordered Qantas to pay a $90 million fine - including $50 million to the TWU - for the Flying Kangaroo's unlawful outsourcing of the jobs of about 1800 ground handling employees, while it has criticised chief executive Vanessa Hudson for failing to appear to explain the airline's contrition.
A judge has slapped an $8000 penalty on a major Commonwealth department after expressing astonishment that it does not have a "human or technological" system in place to ensure it pays dismissed employees their correct entitlements.
The Australian subsidiary of a multinational construction company followed a "considered industrial strategy" devised by a former AMWU leader when it refused a senior union official entry to a project to speak to workers, a judge has found.
A Federal Circuit and Family Court judge has urged the Albanese Government to "substantially" increase penalties for failing to engage with compliance notices and to empower the FWO to seek the removal of directors, to prevent recidivism and deter directors and companies from ignoring notices.
One of the country's leading employment barristers has been fined $20,000 and ordered to undertake counselling after being found to have s-xually touched a female solicitor at a firm's Christmas party.
A full Federal Court has thrown out Serco's appeal against a finding that a senior manager sacked a trainer after he complained about the way she conducted a bullying investigation.
A Canberra contractor that blocked CFMEU officials from investigating safety issues has been hit with higher penalties after conceding that a judge mistakenly bundled obstruction and misrepresentation breaches together when determining fines.
An aged care home has been ordered to pay almost $400,000 in damages and penalties to a Chinese nurse summarily sacked after she complained that Filipino co-workers received more favorable treatment.
A Melbourne stockbroking firm and its founder have been hit with compensation orders and penalties totalling more than $600,000, a Federal Court judge also directing them to cover the legal costs of two former advisors forced to defend "fanciful" claims their departure "destroyed" the business.
