Summaries of our most recent Employee Relations articles are listed below:
19 June 2008
Building and Construction Industry Update June 2008
This edition of the Building and Construction Industry Update June 2008 summarises some recent developments in the building and construction industry, including the transition to Fair Work Australia for the building and construction industry, the ABS statistics on industrial action, the fines imposed on the CFMEU for unlawful conduct, and the Federal Court’s dismissal of an ACCC case against the CFMEU.
13 May 2008
India Update April 2008
In this edition of the India Update we cover issues including the increase in foreign investment limits in key sectors, the new mining policy tabled in Parliament, the new city gas pipelines regulations notified, the activity expected on competitive bids for coal blocks, and the gearing up of companies for legal battles concerning derivates.
13 February 2008
Forward with Fairness transitional Bill: Labor’s changes emphasise collective bargaining
The Rudd Government today introduced the first stage of its ‘Forward with Fairness’ reform legislation.
08 February 2008
Annual workplace relations review: 2007
This is Freehills’ fourth annual review of developments covered by the Freehills Employment and Workplace Relations group. We have continued to expand the scope of the publication to more than just summarise the key developments over the past year, but to also provide the framework of Australia’s system of employment regulation and the likely changes we can expect over the next two years.
18 December 2007
Rudd Government announces further details of its workplace reform proposals
The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, yesterday announced further details of his government’s policy implementation agenda for its workplace relations reforms. The additional information announced by the ALP this week represents some small changes to its legislative timetable, but is mostly consistent with its previously-announced policy proposals.
14 December 2007
Employee Relations Review December 2007
In this edition of the Employee Relations Review, among other things, we discuss a range of issues including a note on the ALP election victory and the ALP’s proposed timetable for the implementation of workplace reforms. We also explore some issues raised by recent unlawful termination and unfair dismissal cases.
12 December 2007
Review of the Accident Compensation Act 1985 (Vic)
The Victorian Government has announced that it will review the Accident Compensation Act 1985 (Vic) in 2008. The review will focus on the benefit and premium regime under the Act in comparison to other jurisdictions, as well as ways to reduce administrative and regulatory burdens on employers.
26 November 2007
The ALP’s victory: what does it mean for workplace relations?
The ALP’s landslide victory at the polls on Saturday 24 November has resulted in the ALP gaining a likely majority of up to 30 seats. For the first time in Australian history, the ALP holds government in every state, territory, and at Commonwealth level.
22 November 2007
Building and Construction Industry Update November 2007
This edition of the Building and Construction Update November 2007 summarises some recent developments in the building and construction industry, including the Coalition's election policy on workplace relations, improvements in productivity due to building industry reforms, and an update on the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Amendment (OHS) Act 2007 (Cth).
09 November 2007
Coalition’s election policy on workplace relations released
The Federal Coalition has released its pre-election workplace relations policy. The key focus of the Coalition policy is providing for a balance between work and family, including the expansion of existing leave entitlements under the Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth).
26 October 2007
Employee Relations Review October 2007
In this edition of the Employee Relations Review, among other things, we remind all federal system employers of the date for distribution of the new Workplace Relations Fact Sheet for all existing employees, and revisit the progress of the Workplace Authority with respect to the workplace agreements lodged since 7 May 2007, and the announcement of a new team of inspectors set up by the Workplace Ombudsman.
24 October 2007
Labor unveils workplace health and safety policy
The Shadow Workplace Relations Minister, Julia Gillard, has today released Labor’s workplace health and safety policy at the National Safety Conference, currently being held in Sydney.
24 September 2007
Employee Relations Review September 2007
In this edition of our ER Review, among other things, we highlight the increase to the unfair dismissal cap from 1 July 2007 in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, and take a look at a decision in which an employee with a pre-existing psychological condition was able to access Comcare benefits some years after being exposed to harassment in the workplace.
19 September 2007
Asia-Pacific Employee Relations Review
Welcome to the first edition of the Freehills Asia-Pacific Employee Relations Review. This newsletter covers a range of interesting developments in employment and workplace relations across the Asia-Pacific region.
31 August 2007
Non-union agreements — Freehills receives clarification of ALP policy
Earlier this week we reported on the ALP’s Policy Implementation Plan (Plan). We have now had the opportunity of discussions with Shadow Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard on one particularly important matter which we reported on—the ALP proposals regarding non-union agreements.
28 August 2007
Further detail on the Australian Labor Party’s Industrial Relations policy
The Federal Opposition today further released further detail of its Industrial Relations policy. Today’s document is a Policy Implementation Plan. It builds upon the April 2007 ‘Forward with Fairness’ policy release.
27 August 2007
Gillard unveils Labor OHS policy
The Shadow Workplace Relations Minister, Julia Gillard, this week unveiled measures that Labor will take to accelerate the move to national uniformity of laws, as part of the policy of the Labor Party on OHS, at a Safety Institute of Australia seminar in Melbourne.
11 May 2007
Restructures resulting in redundancies due to financial difficulties will constitute a ‘genuine operational reason’ for termination
In a recent decision regarding the ‘genuine operational reasons’ exemption to unfair dismissal claims, Commissioner Eames of the AIRC rejected an argument by an employee that his redundancy was a ‘sham’ because his position was subsequently readvertised at a lesser salary with the same duties.
11 May 2007
Raising the bar: How far is an employer vicariously liable for actions of its employees while outside work?
The Federal Magistrates’ Court in Cairns has found the Commonwealth of Australia vicariously liable for unlawful discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation when an employee was raped by a fellow employee in the course of informal socialising which took place outside work hours and away from the workplace.
11 May 2007
Employer restrained from taking disciplinary action against an employee
The New South Wales Administrative Decisions Tribunal recently granted an application by an employee for orders that his employer be restrained from taking disciplinary action against him until his complaint under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 is finally determined.
