21 Jul 2022
Consultations on Legislative Change
The Government is moving rapidly to implement its Secure Australian Jobs Plan policy along with a small number of other changes to workplace relations legislation, such as implementing paid domestic violence leave.
ACCI anticipates a significant, multi-issue amendment Bill being introduced by the end of the parliamentary year, seeking to implement most of Labor’s policy commitments in workplace relations. ACCI will take a leading role in seeking to shape how changes are implemented and in the passage of amendments, for example by actively participating in any Senate inquiry into the amendments.
The Minister’s department is moving to consult with ACCI on a wide range of issues, in some cases at short notice.
We appreciate members understanding and willingness to provide input on an urgent basis via zoom meetings of the ACCI Workplace Policy Committee, and we foresee this process continuing during coming weeks.
Family and Domestic Violence Leave
The Government will next week introduce its legislation to include 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave into the National Employment Standards.
ACCI has been engaged in the pre-legislation consultation process for the implementation of this policy and has indicated employers’ preference for any new legislated entitlement to paid domestic violence leave to align as closely as possible with the provisional view expressed by the Fair Work Commission in the Family and domestic violence leave review 2021 decision.
Jobs and Skills Summit
The Federal Government’s Jobs and Skills Summit is scheduled for September 1-2, 2022, with enterprise bargaining and productivity shaping up as the focus of the likely workplace relations dimensions of the Summit discussions.
ACCI will seek opportunities to advance practical and realistic changes to the rules for enterprise bargaining that can help revive the system that has become unattractive, unrewarding, costly and too unreliable for many employers. Bargaining is increasingly failing to provide sufficient support for productivity improvement, real wage growth, job security and the security and resilience of enterprises.
ACCI is looking forward to working with the government, unions and other employer groups, to make the bargaining system simpler, more accessible and more reliable.
Productivity Commission Inquiry — Carer’s Leave
Following the Royal Commission into Aged Care, the former Treasurer requested the Productivity Commission undertake an inquiry to examine the potential impact of amending the NES to provide for a minimum statutory entitlement to extended unpaid carer’s leave for employees caring for older Australians.
The Issues Paper was recently released and ACCI intends to make a submission in response. Submissions are due by Friday, August 26, 2022. A summary of the key issues raised in the paper will be provided to the WPC. ACCI has also been invited to participate in preliminary consultation sessions with the PC regarding this matter.
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Modern Awards – Casual Employment Term Last week, the Fair Work Commission President, Justice Hatcher, made a statement announcing proceedings on the Commission’s own initiative to determine...
19/07/2024
Modern Awards Review The Fair Work Commission published its report on the Modern Awards Review 2023-24 yesterday, along with a statement from Fair Work Commission President, Justice Adam Hatcher,...
19/07/2024
Small Business Survey The Small Business Committee met this week, and members received a briefing on the results of the Small Business Survey ahead of...
19/07/2024
There is still time to join the next ACCI Trade Policy Committee on 1 August, at 2:00 pm AEST, featuring special guest speaker George Mina. ...
19/07/2024
Sustainable Aviation Fuel submission Australian Chamber - Tourism made a submission to the government's consultation on low-carbon liquid fuels this week. The submission outlines the...
19/07/2024
Apprenticeship Incentives Review The 'What We Heard' summary paper from the Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System was released this week. The critical...
19/07/2024
Unemployment rate slightly up Labour force statistics released this week highlight that the unemployment rate increased slightly from 4 per cent in May to 4.1 per cent...
12/07/2024
Right to Disconnect The President of the Fair Work Commission, Justice Adam Hatcher, has published a statement and the draft modern award term for the...
12/07/2024
ACCI Trade Committee Meeting The next ACCI Trade Policy Committee will feature special guest speaker George Mina, followed by a short Q&A session. George is...
12/07/2024
Upcoming forum meeting The Data, Digital & Cyber (DDC) Forum will hold a meeting on Wednesday 17th July from 10:30am to 12pm AEST. Please contact Ross Creelman for more information.
12/07/2024
Upcoming committee meeting The next meeting of the Small Business Committee will be held online on Friday, 19 July from 10:30 am-11:30 AEST. The meeting...
12/07/2024
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Tony Burke has endorsed ACCI's nomination of Jennifer Low, director of health, safety, resilience, and digital policy, to the...
12/07/2024
Productivity Commission report on economic mobility The Productivity Commission report on economic mobility released this week shows that, on average, Australia’s long-term economic growth has led...
12/07/2024
New NCVER data release: Government-funded students and courses 2023 According to the recent National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) release, an estimated 7.1 per cent...
5/07/2024
ACCI Trade Committee Meeting Join us at the next ACCI Trade Committee on Thursday, 1 August, at 2:00 pm AEST. This meeting will feature a...
5/07/2024
Payment times reforms pass Amendments to the Payment Times Reporting Act 2020 passed Parliament this week. The amendments implement recommendations made through the Statutory Review conducted by Dr Craig...
5/07/2024
Engineered stone ban is now in effect The prohibition on the manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs commenced on...
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Nature Positive Bill introduced The Nature Positive Bill was introduced to Parliament this week. This Bill establishes a new Environment Protection Agency (EPA) responsible for...
5/07/2024
Future Made in Australia The Future Made in Australia Bill 2024 and Future Made in Australia (Omnibus Amendments No. 1) Bill 2024 was tabled in...
5/07/2024
Changes from 1 July From 1 July (last Monday) a series of changes have taken place in the workplace relations system. Employers must be aware...