Industrial relations has been restored to the Cabinet following Prime Minister Scott Morrison's appointment of Kelly O'Dwyer to the revamped portfolio of Jobs, IR and Women.
The Victorian government has proposed that its new scheme to regulate labour hire workers will not extend to secondments and work experience-type placements.
A leading workplace academic has called on legislators to consider a UK parliamentary inquiry's recommendation to impose a legal obligation to protect workers from sexual harassment, with breaches resulting in "substantial financial penalties".
A Victorian parliamentary inquiry has called for a legislated roll-back of cuts to penalty rates in the retail, hospitality and pharmacy industries, rather than a process of take-home pay orders issued by the Fair Work Commission.
A Queensland parliamentary inquiry into wage theft has kicked off with the state's Office of IR criticising the Fair Work Ombudsman's handling of underpayment complaints.
The Turnbull Government has introduced legislation granting employers a one-off, 12-month amnesty for historical underpayment of the superannuation guarantee.
The Turnbull Government has commissioned the APSC to develop "a whole-of-government workforce strategy to drive modern workforce practices, inform future capability requirements and help prepare public sector employees for the future", according to Budget papers.
Unions have criticised the Turnbull Government's engagement of employer-clientele law firm Seyfarth Shaw for a $90,000 review of fatalities in the construction sector.
The Federal Labor Opposition has confirmed it is at odds with key industry bodies in accepting the link between truck drivers' pay and conditions and road safety, but stopped short of committing to re-establishing the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT).
Australia's first labour hire licensing regime comes into effect in Queensland today with legislators attempting to meet industry concerns about its wide cast by tackling the thorny issue of who is and who isn't caught in its scope.