FWC President Iain Ross told a Senate Estimates hearing this afternoon that he wrote to Vice President Lawler last year, after he had appeared in court for his partner Kathy Jackson, saying that any further participation would clash with the principle that members should avoid involvement in matters of public controversy.
A former dive shop manager placed on a three-year good behaviour bond for threatening to "knock down" WorkCover's barrister during a workers compensation hearing has failed to overturn his conviction and sentence in the SA Supreme Court.
The HSU has accused the Heydon Royal Commission of undermining its own credibility by treating former national secretary Kathy Jackson with "kid gloves".
The Heydon Royal Commission's counsel assisting has released submissions that argue that Sydney identity George Alex made cash payments to CFMEU construction and general division NSW branch organiser Darren Greenfield.
Hockey farewells Parliament with look back to Work Choices; Productivity Commission to develop new models for super fund choice; FSU members to vote on ANZ deal next month; Greens Bill seeks to make head franchisors responsible for underpayments; and Hunter template kicks another goal.
The CFMEU says it will seek a police investigation into the "leaking" of Heydon Royal Commission submissions that recommend that criminal charges be laid against the secretary and former president of its construction and general division's Queensland branch over the destruction of documents.
Federal Labor says it is ready to support the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement after securing "legally binding safeguards" requiring labour market testing, use of enterprise agreements as a reference point for 457 visa workers' salaries and a 90-day deadline on obtaining occupational or trades licences.
Victoria's emergency services communication agency has reached in-principle agreement for a new enterprise deal which that will deliver 9% to 11% wage increases over three years to some 650 employees and enable them to donate their personal leave to colleagues.
A report by a Coalition-dominated parliamentary inquiry says current immigration and IR safeguards will mitigate China-Australia Free Trade Agreement concerns if compliance watchdogs are "adequately resourced", but a dissenting report labels the stance "naïve" and "out of touch".
