News & Events

High Court Decision Preserves Longstanding Industry Practice Regarding Personal/Carer’s Leave Accruals

September 7, 2020

The High Court of Australia has overturned the Federal Court’s problematic interpretation of the personal/carer’s leave provisions of the Fair Work Act in the Mondelez v AMWU case. The successful outcome was the result of three years of hard work... Read more

Queensland Business Convicted of Industrial Manslaughter

September 7, 2020

Brisbane Auto Recycling Pty Ltd (BAR) was convicted in the District Court of Queensland of industrial manslaughter for causing the death of a worker, who was struck by a forklift. The business operated by BAR included the purchase of used... Read more

Amendments to the Paid Parental Leave Act

September 7, 2020

The Federal Government’s Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Flexibility Measures) Act 2020 (PPL Amendment Act) amends the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010. The amendments are designed to provide greater flexibility to employees eligible for paid parental leave under the Federal Government’s... Read more

Annual Wage Review 2019-20 Decision

September 7, 2020

The Expert Panel of the Fair Work Commission has handed down its Annual Wage Review 2019-20 Decision. Key elements of the decision include: Award minimum wages and the National Minimum Wage will be increased by 1.75 per cent.The National Minimum... Read more

Miscellaneous Award Coverage Changes

September 7, 2020

The Fair Work Commission has decided to make substantial changes to the wording in the coverage clause of the Miscellaneous Award 2020. The changes have the potential to substantially expand the Award’s coverage to many non-managerial and non-professional roles. The... Read more

Industry welcomes High Court’s judgment to preserve longstanding industry practice regarding personal/carer’s leave accruals

August 13, 2020

"Today, the High Court of Australia granted the appeals by Mondelēz International and the Australian Government against the problematic decision of the Federal Court in the Mondelez v AMWU case. The High Court has clarified the quantum of personal/carer's leave... Read more

High-Earning Manager Unable To Bring Unfair Dismissal Claim

August 13, 2020

A senior manager on a $240,000 annual remuneration package has failed to convince the Fair Work Commission he is an award-covered employee protected from unfair dismissal in the case of Mun Kong Tang v Metro Trains Melbourne Pty Ltd [2020]... Read more

Pre-employment questions: Could potential employees have a claim?

August 13, 2020

On 9 April 2020 the Federal Court of Australia determined a general protections claims in Maric v Ericsson Australia Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 452 in what the Court described as an “unusual case”. The Court determined whether or not the... Read more

What to do when redundancy obligations cost too much

July 22, 2020

Print Logistics (Aust) Pty Ltd (Print Logistics) made an application to vary the redundancy pay due to one of its former employees, on the basis that Print Logistics did not have the financial capacity to make the redundancy payment, and... Read more

Order to Stop ‘Blue Flu’ Granted

June 24, 2020

On 9 January 2020, Orora Packaging Australia Pty Ltd (Orora) made an application to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) for an order pursuant to section 418 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act) to stop unprotected industrial action in... Read more