INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS – GOVERNMENT POLICY – AUSTRALIA

Frydenberg makes fresh pitch for IR reform

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Original article by Primrose Riordan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 28-Sep-15

Australia’s Resources Minister Josh Frydenberg has weighed into the debate on industrial relations reform, arguing that weekend penalty rates cost jobs. He notes that the penalty rates system results in significantly increased costs in the resources sector. Frydenberg has also called for the reinstatement of the Australian Building & Construction Commission.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, ACTU, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Australian July real unemployment 8.7% – down for fifth consecutive month

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 3-Aug-15

A Roy Morgan Research survey on Australia’s labour market has found that the real unemployment rate was 8.7 per cent in July 2015. The number of people in the workforce now totals 12,673,000 (306,000 since July 2014), while the number of people who are underemployed has fallen by 102,000 in the last 12 months to 977,000 (7.7 per cent of the workforce). The official unemployment rate was 6.0 per cent in July 2015. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says the Federal Government must look at the abolition of Sunday and public holiday penalty rates for the tourism and retail industries, as these measures have a detrimental impact on small businesses, which are forced to close on Sundays and public holidays.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Australian June real unemployment 9.3% – down for fourth consecutive month

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 2-Jul-15

A Roy Morgan Research survey on Australia’s labour market has found that the real unemployment rate was 9.3 per cent in June 2015. The number of people in the workforce now totals 12,755,000 (up 247,000 since May 2014), while the number of people who are underemployed has fallen by 59,000 in the last 12 months to 1,129,000 (8.9 per cent of the workforce). The official unemployment rate was 6.0 per cent in May 2015. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says the Federal Government must look at the abolition of Sunday and public holiday penalty rates for the tourism and retail industries, as these measures have a detrimental impact on small businesses, which are forced to close on Sundays and public holidays.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Australian unemployment jumps in February to 11.0% – highest since March 2014

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 4-Mar-15

A Roy Morgan survey on Australia’s unemployment and under-employed shows that the real unemployment rate rose to 11 per cent in February 2015. This compares with an official unemployment rate of 6.4 per cent in January. The total workforce has fallen by 139,000 to 12,526,000 since February 2014, and the number of Australians who are under-employed has risen by 81,000 to 1,161,000 in the last 12 months. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says that to stand any chance of re-election in 2016, the Federal Government must look seriously at comprehensive industrial relations reform in in the May 2015 Budget

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Jobless jump points to rate cut

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Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 13-Feb-15

The Australian economy shed more than 12,000 jobs in January 2015, with the unemployment rate rising to 6.4 per cent. The jobless rate’s rise to its highest level in 12 years weighed heavily on the Australian dollar, which reached a low of $US0.7662 on 12 February. The data also prompted speculation of further interest rate cuts, while business groups say the figures demonstrate the need for industrial relations reforms

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, BANK OF AMERICA AUSTRALIA LIMITED, MERRILL LYNCH (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Australian unemployment down in January to 9.8% as full-time employment increases to new record high despite shrinking workforce

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 6-Feb-15

A Roy Morgan survey on Australia’s unemployment and under-employed shows that the real unemployment rate fell to 9.8 per cent in January 2015. This compares with an official unemployment rate of 6.1 per cent in December 2014. The total workforce has fallen by 127,000 to 12,627,000 since January 2014, and the number of Australians who are under-employed has fallen by 72,000 to 1,033,000 in the last 12 months. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan notes that more than 2.27 million Australians are either unemployed or under-employed, and the Federal Government must look seriously at industrial relations reform

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Weapons drawn in IR battle

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 4 : 23-Jan-15

An issues paper has been made public by the Productivity Commission, for its investigation of Australia’s industrial relations system. While the focus on reform of the Fair Work Act is being applauded by the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Industry Group, the Council of Small Business of Australia and the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Indus­try, the ACTU union umbrella group sees it as dominated by the "obsession" of the Federal Government with penalty rates and individual workplace agreements. Enterprise bargaining and the minimum wage are also on the agenda

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, ACTU, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, FRIENDS

Australian employment at record high in December driven by a record high level of part-time employment

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 8-Jan-15

A Roy Morgan Research survey on Australia’s labour market has found that the real unemployment rate was 10.9 per cent in December 2014. The number of people in the workforce now totals a record 12,901,000 (up 266,000 since December 2013), while the number of people who are underemployed has risen by 154,000 in the last 12 months to 1,246,000 (9.7 per cent). The official unemployment rate was 6.2 per cent in November. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says the high level of unemployment and underemployment means the Federal Government must look seriously at industrial relations reform

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, RESTAURANT AND CATERING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED

New rule could prevent strike

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Original article by Gareth Parker
The West Australian – Page: 3 : 1-Jul-14

Unlike other states, Western Australia (WA) did not refer its industrial relations powers to the Commonwealth. However, Federal Employment Minister Eric Abetz has now launched an amendment by regulation rather than legislation to the Fair Work Act, to enable third parties to appear in federal industrial relations cases. This will allow the WA Government as well as iron ore exporters BHP Billiton and Fortescue Metals to ask Fair Work Australia for a halt to strikes at Port Hedland. Deckhands represented by the Maritime Union of Australia are threatening industrial action against Teekay Shipping at the port

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, PORT HEDLAND PORT AUTHORITY, MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA, TEEKAY SHIPPING (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMERCE, AUSTRALIAN MINES AND METALS ASSOCIATION (INCORPORATED)