O75 Public Administration

Fair work launches 42 probes into CFMEU coercion, corruption

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Original article by Olivia Ireland, David Crowe
The Age – Page: Online : 16-Oct-24

The CFMEU’s construction division is under further scrutiny following the federal government’s recent move to place it in administration. The Fair Work Ombudsman has advised that it has commenced another 42 investigations into alleged illegal conduct within the construction division. The FWO has acted in response to a referral from the government after media reports exposed corruption within the CFMEU and its links to outlaw motorcycle gangs. Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt says the FWO’s investigations demonstrate that there has been progress in "cleaning up" the construction industry.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY AND MARITIME EMPLOYEES UNION, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS

Rebel unions reject Labor’s unity call

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 5 : 16-Oct-24

Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt will address the ACTU executive on Wednesday. He will highlight the federal government’s achievements in securing "better pay and job security" for Australian workers during its first term in office. With a view to the upcoming election, Watt will also contend that Opposition leader Peter Dutton and the Coalition represent the greatest threat to workers’ pay and conditions since the WorkChoices regime. He will in turn urge the union movement to unite in support of Labor and the ACTU, at a time when some unions that primarily represent blue-collar workers are pushing to establish a rival peak union body.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS, ACTU

We did as we were asked, says PM on Voice

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 15-Oct-24

Speaking a year to the day that the Indigenous Voice to parliament referendum was soundly defeated, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described the result as a "disappointing result" but a collective loss. Albanese said that in bringing on the referendum that he was simply honouring an invitation by Indigenous Australians in 2017 to "walk with them in the Uluru Statement from the Heart". Opposition Leader Peter Dutton had promised prior to the Voice referendum that he would hold a referendum next year to recognise Indigenous people in the constitution if he wins the federal election. He dumped his promise after the Voice referendum, and Albanese on Monday dared Dutton to make good on his promise if he is elected.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

ALP under fire over small business review

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 4 : 15-Oct-24

Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO Andrew McKellar has defended its call for the federal government to change the legal definition of a small business. He contends that the push to change this from 15 employees to 25 is not aimed at undermining the rights of workers. The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia supports the ACCI’s push, says CEO Luke Achterstraat. He adds that the government’s refusal to consider the proposal has undermined the Fair Work Ombudsman’s own review of the definition of a small business; Labor had commissioned this to secure the support of independent senator David Pocock for its workplace reforms.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Roy Morgan Poll: Federal voting intention remains tied in mid-October: Coalition 50% cf. ALP 50%

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 15-Oct-24

If a Federal Election were held now the result would be ‘too close to call’ with the ALP 50% (unchanged) tied with the Coalition 50% (unchanged) on a two-party preferred basis, the latest Roy Morgan survey finds. This week’s result continues a run of close results stretching back over four months since mid-June. ALP primary vote support dropped 1.5% points to 30% while the Coalition was unchanged on 37.5%. Support for the Greens increased 1.5% to 14% while One Nation increased 0.5% to 5.5%. Support for Other Parties dropped 0.5% to 3.5% and support for Independents was unchanged at 9%.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MORGAN POLL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ONE NATION PARTY

Labor to ban debit card surcharges

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Original article by James Eyers, Lucas Baird, John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 18 : 15-Oct-24

The Reserve Bank of Australia will launch a review of payment costs for retailers, with the announcement of its review coming as the federal government flags its intention to ban debit card surcharges. A ban on these surcharges would impact many retailers, who currently pass them on to consumers; it is estimated that consumers are paying $1.5 billion annually on debit and credit card surcharges. The ban could be implemented from the start of January 2026, subject to consulation with the RBA, while the government will give the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission an additional $2.1 million to crack down on excessive surcharge fees.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

Burke to sign off on every Gazan refugee granted new humanitarian visa

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Original article by Natassia Chrysanthos
Brisbane Times – Page: Online : 15-Oct-24

The federal government’s pathway for Palestinians fleeing the war in Gaza does not yet offer the chance of permanent residency, with Gazan refugees to be personally invited by Immigration Minister Tony Burke to apply for a temporary three-year humanitarian visa. The government’s approach to Gazan refugees is not as generous as the one adopted by the former Coalition government to Ukrainian refugees, while there could be the opportunity for Gazan refugees to apply for permanent residency as their temporary humanitarian visa comes to its end.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS

The half trillion-dollar stimulus we didn’t know about

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Original article by Shane Wright
The Age – Page: Online : 15-Oct-24

A series of reviews by the Reserve Bank of Australia into its policies during the COVID-19 pandemic have revealed details of a half trillion-dollar stimulus that many were not aware of. It has prompted the question of whether the stimulus, in combination with record low interest rates and government assistance, help cause the inflation problem that prompted the RBA to instigate a series of interest rate increases. A further question prompted by the RBA’s reviews is why Australians governments are yet to examine the merits of their pandemic policies.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Watt seeks CFMEU Please explain

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 4 : 11-Oct-24

Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt will ask CFMEU administrator Mark Irving why he has given Joel Shackleton a job in the union’s Victorian branch. A CFMEU organiser, Shackleton has been charged with threats to kill a labour hire company owner, and is due to face court over the charges on 22 November. Employers and the Opposition contend that Shackleton should be stood down, claiming that Irvine’s decision to let him keep working with the CFMEU does not send a good message at a time when the federal government is seeking to clean up the construction sector.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY AND MARITIME EMPLOYEES UNION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS

Opposition’s calls to change question time for Melbourne Cup labelled ‘ridiculous

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Original article by Sezen Bakan
The New Daily – Page: Online : 11-Oct-24

Question time in federal parliament on 5 November is due to run from 2pm to 3pm, with the Melbourne Cup to be run on the same day at 3pm. Liberal MP Dan Tehan has described the schedule conflict as "un-Australian", and the Opposition is said to be pushing for question time on that day to be held at 10am instead. Bill Browne, director of the Democracy & Accountability Program at the Australia Institute, says he thinks most Australians would feel parliament sitting is more important than politicians watching the Melbourne Cup live. Australian National University and Griffith University Emeritus Professor in political science John Wanna has described the Opposition’s call to change question time to suit the Melbourne Cup as "ridiculous".

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LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, THE AUSTRALIA INSTITUTE LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY