BILL DRAFTING – AUSTRALIA

Coalition will consider changes to religious discrimination bill after Senate inquiry, Michaelia Cash says

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Original article by Sarah Martin
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 25-Nov-21

The federal government’s religious discrimination bill will be tabled in the lower house on Thursday, although it will not be subject to debate or a vote until next week. The controversial bill will also be subject to a Senate inquiry when it is introduced to the upper house. Attorney-General Michaelia Cash has indicated that the government will be open to any amendments that are recommended by the Senate committee, which is slated to report on the bill in early 2022. Cash has also sought to clarify misunderstand about the ‘statement of belief’ provisions of the bill.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT

First act in office would be to kill voter ID law: Labor

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Original article by Tom McIlroy
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 24-Nov-21

Special Minister of State Ben Morton has told a parliamentary committee that nobody will be denied the right to vote under the federal government’s proposal to require people to prove their identity at polling booths. He also that more than 700 people had admitted to voting more than once at the 2019 election, and the Australian Electoral Commission had identified 311 multiple votes before they were counted. However, Labor senator Don Farrell has urged the government to withdraw the voter ID legislation; he also says Labor’s first priority would be to repeal the legislation if it wins the next election.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Final tranche of Hayne reforms a milestone

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Original article by James Frost
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 28-Oct-21

The federal government will legislate to implement a further six recommendations arising from the Hayne royal commission on 28 October. The last tranche of legislation includes a bill to replace the Banking Executive Accountability Regime with the broader-based Financial Accountability Regime, which will also apply to the insurance and superannuation sectors. The government will also establish the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort, which will eventually be fully funded via an industry level. Kenneth Hayne released his final report in February 2019.

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AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO MISCONDUCT IN THE BANKING, SUPERANNUATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY

Voters will be asked to show identification to vote under Morrison government proposal

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Original article by Paul Karp
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 27-Oct-21

The federal government has attracted criticism over plans to make it compulsory for voters to supply identification documents at polling stations on election day. The bill has been endorsed by the Coalition’s partyroom but has yet to introduced to parliament. Shadow special minister of state Don Farrell says Labor will oppose any bill that includes "anti-democratic thought bubbles". The government had first proposed voter ID laws in late 2018, while One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts recently introduced a voter ID bill in the upper house.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ONE NATION PARTY

Crossbench test for class action reform

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Original article by Adeshola Ore
The Australian – Page: 7 : 19-Oct-21

The federal government is expected to shortly introduce a bill to cap the proportion of class action payouts received by lawyers and litigation funders at 30 per cent. Shadow financial services minister Stephen Jones says Labor has yet to decide its position on the proposed fee cap. The government will require the support of at least three Senate crossbenchers if Labor and the Greens oppose the bill. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson supports the proposed reforms, but independent senator Rex Patrick contends that the bill should be subject to a Senate inquiry.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ONE NATION PARTY

National cabinet secrecy: senator to cross the floor

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Original article by Ronald Mizen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 10 : 29-Sep-21

The federal government will need the support of four crossbench senators for its legislation to overturn a Federal Court ruling on the status of the national cabinet. Justice Richard White recently ruled in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal that the national cabinet is not covered by secrecy laws. Liberal senator Gerard Rennick has advised that he will vote against the legislation, stating that he has no time for secrecy and that Australians have a right to know what is discussed in meetings of the national cabinet.

CORPORATES
FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Bosses and unions unite to urge senator’s vote against seriously flawed super reform bill

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Original article by Patrick Commins
The Australian – Page: 7 : 7-Jun-21

The ACTU and the Australian Industry Group have joined forces to call for the ‘Your Super, Your Future’ legislation to be rejected by the Senate. They contend that the bill still has some major flaws; it recently passed the lower house following the removal of provisions which allow the federal government to veto investments made by superannuation funds that are not deemed to be in members’ best interests. Amongst other things, the ACTU and the Ai Group are concerned that the bill will result in people being stuck in underperforming super funds.

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ACTU, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP

‘Ideology gone mad’: Silk slams super veto laws

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Original article by Cliona O’Dowd
The Australian – Page: 17 : 9-Apr-21

AustralianSuper CEO Ian Silk has criticised key elements of the federal government’s proposed superannuation reforms. He is particularly concerned about provisions of the ‘Your Future, Your Super’ bill which allow the government to block an investment by a super fund, even if it is in members’ best financial interests. Silk says that amongst other things, this raises genuine concerns about sovereign risk. David Knox of consultancy firm Mercer in turn warns that subjecting super funds to performance tests will result in lower returns over the longer term, as trustees will be reluctant to invest in some asset classes.

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AUSTRALIANSUPER PTY LTD, MERCER INVESTMENTS PTY LTD

Crossbench on front foot over IR

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 8 : 17-Feb-21

The federal government will not proceed with legislation to allow coronavirus-hit employers to temporarily bypass the Fair Work Act’s ‘better off overall test’. The ACTU and Senate crossbenchers have welcomed the decision, but contend that further changes to the industrial relations omnibus bill are needed. Shadow industrial relations minister Tony Burke says the government had only backed down because it would not get the proposed reform through the Senate. Business Council of Australia CEO Jennifer Westacott says the remaining changes in the omnibus bill will ‘reinvigorate’ the enterprise bargaining system.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

Senior academics warn against IR bill

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 9-Feb-21

Professor Andrew Stewart from the University of Adelaide is among 23 labour law experts who have criticised key elements of the federal government’s omnibus industrial relations bill. Professor Stewart says a particular concern is the proposal to exempt some enterprise agreements from the ‘better-off-overall test’ for two years. The senior academics have also questioned the proposed definition of a casual worker. Professor Stewart stresses that the academics support some parts of the bill, such as increased penalties for wage theft.

CORPORATES
UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE