This Month
Penalty rate push undermines productivity summit
A bill enshrining penalty rates in law will be among the first through parliament next week, but is at odds with the government’s productivity goals.
Rag trade ruling leaves taxpayers on the hook for unpaid wages
The unpaid wages safety net prevents workers being out of pocket in a corporate collapse. But without a deterrent, it can become a corporate handout.
June
High Court ruling on CFMEU a ‘line in the sand’ moment for cleanout
The CFMEU administrator has declared the High Court backing of the administration will make way for systemic industry reforms.
Union suggests Labor laws could reverse past penalty rate cuts
The Albanese government’s promised laws would “negate” any decisions to remove or reduce penalty rates, unions warn.
Minister accused of intervention in penalty rates case
New Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth’s letter to the Fair Work Commission has prompted it to consider delaying its ruling on retail workers’ penalty rates.
Historic real increase to minimum wage ‘not sustainable’
Employers say the Fair Work Commission has underestimated how bad productivity growth is and the biggest real increase to award wages since 2019 can’t be sustained.
May
Union claims young people voted Labor and now it’s time for payback
The retail union has written to the new workplace minister to ask her to back its case to abolish discounted rates for 18-year-olds and above in retail and fast food.
Gender pay rises will lead to higher fees, private health warns
Private health providers say increases of up to 30 per cent for health professionals will blow out costs and lead to higher client fees in smaller practices.
Albanese resets the board for a high-stakes political game
The prime minister says he is confident he has the right people in the right ministerial roles as he shrugs off any criticism about his new team.
Plibersek sidelined, PM puts fixers in environment and NDIS
Mark Butler has been given the task of bringing the NDIS under control, while Tanya Plibersek has been pushed out of environment and replaced by Murray Watt.
March
Bold decisions needed to constrain NDIS growth: report
The NDIS is failing to achieve its original goals and is groaning under the weight of unsustainable work volumes, says the Grattan Institute.
January
Rishworth takes NDIS in Labor reshuffle, Wells promoted to cabinet
Anthony Albanese praised Aged Care Minister Anika Wells for securing the sector’s most significant reforms “this century” as he announced her new position.
October 2024
Albanese says he never called Qantas boss for flight upgrades
The leadership of the newly established National Anti-Corruption Commission, including Commissioner Paul Brereton, have been given access to Qantas’ invite-only Chairman’s Lounge.
May 2024
Deeming cliff looms for 850k aged pensioners, welfare recipients
With inflation running high and cost-of-living pressures continuing to plague households, the government is being pressured to extend the freeze, or at least phase in, a higher deeming rate in the budget.
Why Australia’s domestic violence problem is complicated
The hope is that targeted action, and policies to boost women’s economic security more broadly, can continue to deliver results.
April 2024
Albanese calls crisis meeting on male violence against women
The prime minister will hold a national cabinet meeting after being heckled at a Canberra rally protesting against a “national crisis” of gendered violence.
The plan to build the next Who Gives a Crap
Businesses helping deliver social good in the community will get extra help finding critical capital investment, the federal government says.
January 2024
Fears NDIS alternatives won’t be enough to stop scheme growth
Disability advocates warn that reforms to prepare schools for a large number of children with autism will take too long and not be adequate to stem the growth of the NDIS.
‘Taking pressure off Australians’: the changes affecting you in 2024
A raft of state and federal changes will affect Australians this year, including measures designed to make it easier for pensioners to work more.
November 2023
Banks and buy now, pay later stump up for financial counselling
The Albanese government will implement a key recommendation of the Hayne royal commission to provide more help to vulnerable people.