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.
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.
The Coalition government intends to use a new Fair Work regulation to shield employers from "double dipping" where long-term casual employees are deemed to be eligible for leave entitlements.
The Jobs Department has told a Senate Estimates hearing that it met with labour hire company Workpac following the full Federal Court's crucial casual leave decision in Skene, but that it hasn't drafted a Bill to address the ruling.
Employers and unions have stepped up their lobbying of key Senate crossbenchers as the Morrison Government seeks to revive support for legislation that would make it easier to deregister unions for regularly breaching workplace and civil laws.
Liberal Party leadership challenger Peter Dutton has confirmed his support for cutting penalty rates, while trying to put forward other policy differences with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
The FWC has given Workplace Minister Craig Laundy the go-ahead to put his case that the MFB agreement should be rejected because it contains discriminatory and objectionable terms and fails the BOOT.
Senior Jobs Department IR policy advisor Sandra Parker has today been announced as the new Fair Work Ombudsman, bringing Natalie James's five-year tenure to an end.
A Queensland parliamentary inquiry into wage theft has kicked off with the state's Office of IR criticising the Fair Work Ombudsman's handling of underpayment complaints.
