The composition and role of the Fair Work Commission "must be re-examined" due to Coalition governments appointing 20 consecutive members from an employer background, according to an internal ACTU report.
Company directors face tough penalties for avoiding employee entitlements under new laws cracking down on "sharp corporate practices" such as phoenixing and asset-shifting.
The AWU has failed to produce a "smoking gun" in its attempt to overturn a decision by the Registered Organisations Commission to investigate donations by the union, the Federal Court has been told.
The ROC's executive director, Chris Enright, assumed that former Employment Minister Michaelia Cash had "an agenda" when she raised concerns about donations by the AWU, the Federal Court has heard.
IR Minister Kelly O'Dwyer's latest challenge to a contentious, newly-minted Melbourne fire brigade agreement is heading to the FWC for a hearing on Monday, with her bid for a stay order coinciding with the deal's scheduled start date.
Taxpayers appear set to shell out more than $1 million in legal costs over the Federal Court challenge relating to the Registered Organisations Commission's investigation into past donations by the AWU.
The FWC has approved a Melbourne fire brigade agreement after it accepted undertakings that override terms that hindered workers going part-time and allowed their union to block flexible working arrangements, while a challenge is still on foot to an earlier finding that discriminatory deals can still get up.
The Federal Court will rule this morning on whether a former senior media advisor to ex-Employment Minister Michaelia Cash will be required to answer questions in the AWU raids case, despite claiming privilege on the grounds of self-incrimination.
A federal Labor government would establish a single Whistleblowing Act and protection authority to ensure "companies are held to the same standard as unions", according to the ALP, but IR Minister Kelly O'Dwyer says its planned reward scheme could benefit those involved in misconduct.
