Triple fine threat looms as watchdog’s reach widens

March 22, 2016roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Elizabeth Colman
The Australian – Page: 5 : 22-Mar-16

ACTU secretary Dave Olive says the general public does not support the Federal Government’s push to reinstate the Australian Building & Construction Commission. The ABCC bill, which could be the trigger for a double dissolution election, would result in unions facing fines of up to $A180,000 for every breach of industrial relations laws, compared with just $A54,000 at present. The ABCC will also have the power to regulate non-building unions that are involved in the supply chain for building sites.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, ACTU, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, TRANSPORT WORKERS’ UNION, MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, FAIR WORK BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION, AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF THE FAIR WORK BUILDING INDUSTRY INSPECTORATE

Carnell laments IR reform inertia

March 11, 2016roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Patrick Durkin
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 11-Mar-16

Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO Kate Carnell stepped down on 10 March 2016 after two years in the role. Carnell describes the Federal Government’s lack of action on the issue of industrial relations reform has her biggest failure during her tenure. She says the IR system is too complex, restrictive and inflexible, and it must be overhauled to reflect workplaces of the future. Carnell will become the federal small business ombudsman.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN FOOD AND GROCERY COUNCIL, AUSTRALIAN GENERAL PRACTICE NETWORK LIMITED, BEYOND BLUE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Coalition has ‘failed’ to deliver on workplace policy promises

February 18, 2016roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by James Massola
The Age – Page: 4 : 18-Feb-16

The Australian Government has made just four changes to industrial relations laws since taking office in September 2013. However, it has failed to make much progress on most of the 14 election policy commitments it made regarding industrial relations. Key policies such as reinstating the Australian Building & Construction Commission and changes to union right of entry laws have been stalled in the Senate.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. ROAD SAFETY REMUNERATION TRIBUNAL, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT

Unemployment rises to 10.3% in January – Under-employment down from record high in December

February 8, 2016roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 5-Feb-16

A Roy Morgan Research survey on Australia’s labour market has found that the real unemployment rate was 10.3 per cent in January 2016. The number of people in the workforce has risen to a record 13,098,000 (up 471,000 since January 2015), and a record 11,752,000 Australians are employed (up 358,000 in the last 12 months). Meanwhile, the number of people who are under-employed has risen by 196,000 in the last 12 months to 1,229,000 (9.4 per cent of the workforce). The official unemployment rate was 5.8 per cent in December 2015. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says Australia’s outdated industrial relations laws and work practices can only be properly reformed if the "cash economy" is tackled at the same time – otherwise any efforts at IR reform will be of limited benefit, as Government revenue increases will be negligible.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Workers promised fair new industrial regime

January 28, 2016roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Phillip Coorey, Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 28-Jan-16

Federal Employment Minister Michaelia Cash has promised that all parties would be consulted on the proposed changes to industrial relations laws. She said on 27 January 2016 that the protection of workers’ rights will not be compromised. In her view, workers need a "strong safety net." The Federal Government is considering the introduction of enterprise contracts for medium-sized businesses.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ACTU

Restaurant closes to avoid holiday costs

January 27, 2016roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Meredith Booth, Michael Owen
The Australian – Page: 5 : 27-Jan-16

Kitchen staff at Adelaide restaurant Parlamento are paid $A20 an hour on normal weekdays. However, the restaurant elected not to open on the 2016 Australia Day public holiday as penalty rates would have increased wages to $A48 an hour. Co-owner Daniel Rattenni says any profits made on the day would have been so small as to not be worth it. Rob Lucas, the South Australian Opposition’s industrial relations spokesman, notes that penalty rates are deterring businesses from hiring staff.

CORPORATES
PARLAMENTO, LIBERAL PARTY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, RESTAURANT AND CATERING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED

Cabinet looks at workplace changes in growth package

January 27, 2016roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 27-Jan-16

Strategies for lifting economic growth and employment will be on the agenda at the first meeting of federal Cabinet ministers for 2016. Industrial relations reforms may be part of the Federal Government’s election package, which could include a Productivity Commission recommendation to introduce enterprise contracts for companies that have at least 20 employees. The Government is also believed to favour increasing the GST and widening its scope to include fresh food. This would be accompanied by a reduction in the personal income and corporate tax rates.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION

Coalition starts IR charm offensive

January 12, 2016roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Primrose Riordan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 2 : 12-Jan-16

The Australian Government will need the support of six crossbench senators to get the Australian Building and Construction Commission Bill through the upper house. The Senate has already rejected the legislation twice, but the Government is committed to introducing it again when Parliament resumes in early February 2016. The proposed industrial relations reforms are aimed at cracking down on unions in the wake of the Royal Commission into Trade Union Corruption and Governance.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH

Unionists face bans

January 11, 2016roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Annika Smethurst
Herald Sun – Page: 13 : 11-Jan-16

The Australian Government will resubmit the Registered Organisations Bill to the Senate when Parliament resumes in February 2016. The revised bill is expected to include measures aimed at union officials who breach the law, including financial penalties and bans on them holding office. They are among the recommendations of the final report of the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, VICTORIA POLICE, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT

Unemployment rises to 9.7% in December – Under-employment at record high

January 5, 2016roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 4-Jan-16

A Roy Morgan Research survey on Australia’s labour market has found that the real unemployment rate was 9.7 per cent in December 2015, compared with 9.2 per cent in November. The number of people in the workforce now totals 13,007,000 (up 106,000 since December 2014), and 11,751,000 Australians are employed (up 252,000 since December 2014). Meanwhile, the number of people who are under-employed has risen by 188,000 in the last 12 months, to a record 1,434,000 (11 per cent of the workforce). The official unemployment rate was 5.8 per cent in November 2015. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says the key point for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the Coalition Government as they contemplate when to hold the Federal Election is how to properly manage the Australian economy to ensure growth and provide jobs for the growing workforce. Changing industrial relations laws and work practices can only be effective if the "cash economy" is tackled at the same time – otherwise any efforts at IR reform will be of limited benefit as Government revenue increases will be negligible.