Abbott/Turnbull/Morrison Government (Coalition, 2013-) page 25 of 61

Restaurant employers have applied to the FWC to vary the industry award to provide more flexibility to deal with the coronavirus virus, following on from similar cases involving clerical and hotels awards.

Unions have today called for the Morrison Government to provide two weeks of federally-funded paid "special leave" for all workers forced to stop work or isolate themselves due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The ACTU is pushing to get a hearing in the Morrison Government's review of the workplace system, arguing that it appears skewed towards big business.

The Queensland Law Society has detailed a host of concerns about the Coalition's proposed "ensuring integrity" legislation, arguing its broadening of recommendations by the royal commission into trade unions is unjustified, unfair and "contrary" to such established legal principles as presumption of innocence.

The Coalition should not make the "discredited and politicised" ROC the regulator of workers' entitlement funds, noting that even the Heydon Royal Commission didn't recommend going down that track, Shadow IR Minister Tony Burke told Parliament this week in his response to the "proper use of benefits" legislation.

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.

High Court to hear "thoughtcrime" case; Shots fired at CFMMEU leader's home; Union to test whether hired actors are employees.

Employment and IR barrister John Snaden has been appointed to the Federal Court.

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.

There is an overwhelming case for change to the Fair Work Act, but neither a Shorten Labor Government nor a returned Coalition administration are likely to undertake fundamental reform, according to Adelaide University Professor of Law, Andrew Stewart.