One of the architects of the Howard Government's 1996 industrial laws, Jonathan Hamberger, wants to see further change in Australian workplaces, but no longer believes legislation is the key.
Victoria Police has confirmed that the arrest today of a senior CFMMEU official during a raid at his home stems from an investigation into the "alleged provision of materials and labour in exchange for favouring contractors".
The ABCC is pressing ahead with prosecutions against the CFMMEU, three officials and 44 individual workers over alleged industrial action last year on a Perth airport rail link project.
The CFMMEU construction and general division's pledge overnight of its "full support" for embattled Victorian branch secretary John Setka has been undercut by the resignation today of his deputy, Shaun Reardon, due to "irreconcilable differences" with his boss.
Labor's new shadow IR minister is prominent frontbencher and former SDA organiser Tony Burke, who in his youth won improved pay and conditions for paperboys after threatening to picket a newsagency.
