The wife of the former chief officer of Melbourne's Metropolitan Fire Brigade has alleged that her husband resigned due to bullying by the United Firefighters Union.
Commonwealth Ombudsman Colin Neave has told FWBC director Nigel Hadgkiss that he must stop telling those he interviews under the watchdog's coercive powers to keep the details confidential.
Unions representing police, nurses and ambulance officers have expressed strong reservations over the Turnbull Government's legislation to defend the role of volunteers in Victoria's Country Fire Authority, while Professor Andrew Stewart says parties might be able to readily sidestep the legislative restrictions via side deeds.
One Nation has flagged its support for the Senate inquiry into the controversial legislation aimed at restricting volunteer-related clauses in the enterprise agreement covering professional firefighters employed by Victoria's Country Fire Authority.
A Senate inquiry is seeking submissions next week on the bill introduced last week to protect the status of Country Fire Authority volunteers, while the ABCC and registered organisations bills re-introduced at the same time have again been sent to inquiries.
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott says the Turnbull Government can deliver on election promises such as re-establishing the ABCC, despite facing a "difficult parliament".
Victoria's volunteer firefighters will tomorrow revive their bid to block the Country Fire Authority from seeking approval for its new enterprise agreement.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says the Coalition will re-introduce the two Bills used to trigger the double dissolution election, in a bid to win their passage, but if they are rejected, "then a joint sitting can be held".
The union movement's targeted marginal seats campaign played an "absolutely critical" role in generating a dramatic swing to the Labor Party in Saturday's federal election, according to renowned political analyst Malcolm Mackerras.