An Australian Human Rights Commission report released today floats the possibility of strengthening the Fair Work Act's right to request flexible work to accommodate the needs of unpaid carers, amending the NES to provide specifically for carer's leave and introducing new protections for carers in federal anti-discrimination laws.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has reiterated his commitment to his paid parental leave scheme and to bringing back the ABCC but has provided no new detail on the IR policy the Coalition will take to the September 14 election, saying only that it will address the "flexibility, militancy and productivity problems arising from the Fair Work Act".
Federal Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten has converted the government's construction code and guidelines into a legislative instrument in an attempt to provide greater certainty to building industry participants faced with conflicting state government policies.
The lawyer representing former HSU national secretary Craig Thomson has warned that a subpoena issued by the Fair Work Commission against the ALP's NSW branch could have ramifications for all national union secretaries.
Reflecting a stronger commitment to policing registered organisations in the wake of its much-criticised HSU probe, the Fair Work Commission's regulatory compliance branch is currently conducting seven formal investigations into unions and one into an employer association.
AWU takes Newman public sector laws to High Court; Motel sex case to go to High Court; Submissions due by March 1 for Coalition productivity working group; "What's on" page updated; and correction to Eco Recyclers article.
A full Federal Court has upheld a 2011 ruling that five insurance sales representatives were employees despite signing contracts that said they were independent contractors, meaning they will keep more than $500,000 in accrued annual and long service leave.
