News

The Victorian Government’s Long Service Benefits Portability Bill 2018 (Vic) is before the Victorian Parliament. Ai Group has made a detailed submission to the Government, Opposition and key Crossbenchers expressing opposition to  the  legislation and  highlighting numerous problems with the Bill, including excessively broad coverage provisions that would lead to many companies outside the community services, contract cleaning and security industries becoming covered by the schemes and being required to pay the levy.

The Victorian Government has introduced a Bill into Parliament that would amend the Owner Drivers and Forestry Contractors Act 2005 (Vic). The amendments would provide additional protections for owner drivers and forestry contractors and implement financial penalties for non-compliance with various provisions of the Act.

During the Fair Work Commission’s (FWC) 4 Yearly Review of Modern Awards, there has been a hard-fought contest between Ai Group and the unions concerning whether or not the standard award clause which gives an employer the right to deduct money from wages due on termination for notice not given by an employee, can remain in awards. Following several rounds of submissions over the past 12 months and a hearing, a Full Bench of the FWC has decided upon a new model clause.

On 2 August 2018, the Full Court of the Federal Court issued a personal payment order against CFMMEU official Joe Myles. This is the first personal payment order issued since the High Court decided earlier this year that the Federal Court has the power to make these orders.

On 20 July 2018, an application was filed in the Federal Court of Australia for judicial review of the decisions of the FWC which approved the merger between the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, the Maritime Union of Australia, and the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia.

On 15 July 2018, Sandra Parker commenced a five-year term as the Fair Work Ombudsman, replacing Natalie James whose five-year term has expired.

On 20 July 2018, Ai Group filed a submission in response to the Productivity Commission’s draft report Superannuation: Assessing Efficiency and Competitiveness.

On 30 July 2018, Ai Group made a submission to a Queensland Parliamentary Committee inquiry into ‘wage theft’.

In late July, Ai Group made a submission to a Senate Committee Inquiry into the Exploitation of General and Specialist Cleaners Working for Retail Chains for Contracting or Subcontracting Cleaning Companies.