A court's imposition of $200,000 in fines on the CFMMEU for unlawful pickets that might have caused "some very small loss of productivity" underlines the heavy sanctions construction unions face for such actions under the legislation that re-established the ABCC after the 2016 double dissolution election.
The Federal Circuit Court has meted out a $41,040 fine to an NBN subcontractor that was "entirely uncooperative" with FWO proceedings relating to non-payment of a teenage labourer.
In a significant ruling on how Fair Work Act breaches are to be assessed, a Federal Court full bench has invoked double jeopardy principles to strip $48,000 off penalties awarded against the CFMMEU and one of its organisers.
A Federal Court judge has for the second time rejected FWO arguments that the CFMMEU's maritime division should not benefit from the Fair Work Act's single course of conduct mechanism in determining penalties for an unlawful strike.
FWO celebrations over winning almost $400,000 in penalties against a travel company and its director for cash-back arrangements have been tempered by a court's observation that it might have been wise to secure immunity for the two visa-seeking workers concerned before initiating litigation.
A court has found that an external HR advisor played a central role in the unlawful dismissal of a yoga instructor who complained about her employer failing to pay award rates.
A Jetstar pilot who is suing his employer and parent company Qantas for discrimination has accused the budget airline of assessing him as not proficient, denying him the same opportunities as others and ending his ability to work in Australia because of his race.
The NUW will face total penalties of $72,900 over unlawful industrial action at two Woolworths distribution centres in Melbourne in 2015, after a Federal Court ruling.
A judge has ordered more than $200,000 in compensation and penalties against two underpaying former company directors at the same time as roundly rejecting FWO attempts to characterise the dental technician involved as a "vulnerable" visa-holder.
Australia's two largest employer groups have rejected the Morrison Government's in-principle commitment to introduce criminal offences for the worst cases of underpayment.
