The Fair Work Ombudsman has made scant use of new powers it won three years ago to conduct compulsory interviews and to prosecute franchisors to help to protect vulnerable workers.
Attorney-General and IR Minister Christian Porter insists he will stay on in Federal Cabinet and won't let the Four Corners report alleging inappropriate behaviour become a "massive distraction".
Attorney-General and IR Minister Christian Porter is attempting to stare down allegations of inappropriate conduct, as he prepares to oversee crucial legislation to change workplace laws and to introduce a national anti-corruption agency.
Treasury officials have sought to reassure senators that if employers recruit and engage young workers under the Morrison Government's $4 billion JobMaker hiring credit scheme, they won't breach the Age Discrimination Act.
Pauline Hanson's One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts has warned that his longstanding concerns over the treatment of casual coal mining workers could influence his vote on the Morrison Government's forthcoming IR Bill.
About three-quarters of employers that participated in the JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme used the temporary IR flexibilities such as employee stand-downs, according to a new report.
The Federal Circuit Court has criticised the Federal Department of Agriculture for taking a "belligerent", "intransigent course" in resisting an extension of time and seeking costs against a former employee despite her lawyers accepting full responsibility.
ACTU secretary Sally McManus is hopeful that agreement can be reached on a legal definition of casual employees, despite the Morrison Government's IR working groups ending with recriminations between union and employer groups.
