Federal spending on IR functions will drop over the next four years, mainly due to the end of education campaigns that backed up the introduction of the national IR system, tonight's Budget reveals.
Unions to seek to end "matters pertaining", stymie Qantas-style tactics; Minimum wage panel sets down two days for consultations; Government wins reprieve from FWA document order; and PC recommends schools move away from centralised IR, axing of bonuses.
Former HSU national secretary Craig Thomson committed 156 of the 181 contraventions found in the FWA investigation of the union's national office, with his offences including unauthorised spending of $5,793 of the organisation's funds on escort services and more than $250,000 on his campaign to win election as the MP for Dobell.
Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten has this evening promised to introduce legislation to improve the accountability and transparency of unions and their officials and to improve FWA's capacity to conduct investigations, in the wake of the public release of the report into the conduct of former HSU national secretary Craig Thomson.
FWA general manager Bernadette O'Neill will initiate proceedings in the Federal Court to pursue penalties and declarations against the HSU, current officials and a former official, and a former auditor, after her delegate's investigation revealed the union had "abjectly failed" to provide safeguards against misuse of members money.
A "no protected action" clause in an expired agreement is no barrier to unions applying for a protected action ballot for a new deal, Fair Work Australia has ruled.
In an important ruling, the full Federal Court has rejected a Qantas challenge to a Federal Magistrates Court finding that it coerced and took adverse action against an aircraft engineer who complained about being underpaid while on an overseas posting.
The High Court has this morning unanimously dismissed the AEU's battle against the federal registration of rival union the Australian Principals' Federation, holding it is a validly registered organisation.
NSW to legislate to install HSU East administrator; DPP won’t pursue criminal action against HSU national office and officials; Builder faces big costs bill after conspiracy case fails; FWA requires five days notice of Victorian teacher action; and NSW employers say Act wrongly assumes workplaces are adversarial.
The Federal Opposition will consider the recommendations of the Fair Work Act review, but will probably conduct its own if it takes office, according to Shadow Workplace Relations Minister Eric Abetz.
