Federal Government page 1 of 39

In a clear indication that the recent rash of underpayment disclosures by large companies has not gone unnoticed, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has told a business audience that his government hopes to reduce the current compliance regime's "administrative clutter".

The ACTU is pushing to get a hearing in the Morrison Government's review of the workplace system, arguing that it appears skewed towards big business.

The Queensland Law Society has detailed a host of concerns about the Coalition's proposed "ensuring integrity" legislation, arguing its broadening of recommendations by the royal commission into trade unions is unjustified, unfair and "contrary" to such established legal principles as presumption of innocence.

The Morrison Government is looking to establish a national labour hire registration scheme early next year, according to a briefing given to IR Minister Christian Porter soon after he took up his new role.

The Coalition should not make the "discredited and politicised" ROC the regulator of workers' entitlement funds, noting that even the Heydon Royal Commission didn't recommend going down that track, Shadow IR Minister Tony Burke told Parliament this week in his response to the "proper use of benefits" legislation.

The re-election of the Morrison Coalition Government has preserved the features of the current industrial relations system, but left unanswered questions over its workplace agenda for the next three years.

The composition and role of the Fair Work Commission "must be re-examined" due to Coalition governments appointing 20 consecutive members from an employer background, according to an internal ACTU report.

High Court to hear "thoughtcrime" case; Shots fired at CFMMEU leader's home; Union to test whether hired actors are employees.

Employment and IR barrister John Snaden has been appointed to the Federal Court.

The FWC has approved a Melbourne fire brigade agreement after it accepted undertakings that override terms that hindered workers going part-time and allowed their union to block flexible working arrangements, while a challenge is still on foot to an earlier finding that discriminatory deals can still get up.