Logistical problems prevented Labor consulting its business advisor, Rod Eddington, about its IR policy before the ALP’s national conference, Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd claimed yesterday.
The Federal Budget papers reveal that the Howard Government has paid out a quarter of a million dollars in the past year under its much-heralded assistance scheme for potential unlawful dismissal applicants, and $74,000 for parties to use alternative dispute resolution providers.
The Howard Government’s 2007 Budget doesn’t appear to contain any significant changes in IR funding, instead providing tax cuts to encourage low-paid workers to participate in the workforce, as well as new money for skills development and child care.
On the first day that federal politicians were back in Canberra since the ALP released its IR platform and the Howard Government announced its changes to the agreement-making safety net, both sides were in attack mode on IR.
Newspaper advertisements today are directing IR practitioners to a non-existent Workplace Authority that doesn't have the legal backing to provide advice on the Government's proposed new fairness test, according to Flinders University Professor of Law, Andrew Stewart.
The AWU has been conditionally fined $40,000, while one of its organisers and three delegates have been fined $4,000 each for an illegal two-day strike at Roche Mining (JR)'s mineral sands plant at Hamilton in Victoria in March last year.
Labor has criticised the Federal Government's advertisements to promote the changes to Work Choices, saying Prime Minister John Howard is putting his hand in workers' pockets to fund Liberal Party propaganda.
The Federal Court has again struck out a claim by the AIPA against Qantas for supplying Jetstar with four Airbuses, but not permitting the aircraft to be crewed by Qantas employees.
The ALP national executive endorsed ACTU secretary Greg Combet as the candidate for the safe Labor seat of Charlton in NSW on Saturday, but he says he will remain the peak body's leader until close to the election.
