The Coalition has largely succeeded in neutralising IR as a 2013 federal election issue by promising to retain – at least for one term – Labor's Fair Work framework, but Australia's two major parties are still going to the September 7 poll with some significant policy differences, including on paid parental leave, right of entry, and construction industry regulation. Workplace Express compares their IR policies and those of the Greens, whose future hold on the Senate balance of power is uncertain.
The 1.5% levy on large corporations to finance the Coalition's paid parental leave scheme will raise $1.1 billion more in the next four years than is required to cover its net cost, according to figures released by Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey today.
Wage growth in private sector agreements lodged in the June quarter has dropped to 3.5% a year, well below the post-GFC average of about 3.9%, according to new data released by DEEWR today.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott promised to "move the workplace relations pendulum back to the sensible centre", restore a "strong" construction industry watchdog, and "hit dodgy union officials with the same penalties as corporate crooks", in his official launch of the Coalition's federal election campaign yesterday.
With the FWC's new bullying jurisdiction to commence operation in less than five months, Master Builders Australia claims there are practical difficulties with the regime, including the potential for "go away" money, confusion arising from multiple actions, and the absence of a pre-screening process.
The Federal Circuit Court has ruled that there is no unfettered right to freedom of political expression in dismissing a federal public servant's application for a declaration that any finding that she had breached the APS code of conduct for tweeting her opinions would breach her implied constitutional rights.
There won't be real stability in the national IR system until there is a place for statutory individual contracts - at least for high income earners - according to a law firm partner.
The NTEU is hailing an agreement with Swinburne University for new domestic violence protections that include options for employees to alter working arrangements and work locations, and hopes they will become a standard across the higher education industry.
