ARTICLES

The Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission (FWC) has provided clarification on when an employee can be dismissed for a safety breach. The case involved an employee who was dismissed after he operated a crane inconsistently with the company’s safety procedures, causing...

In a recent decision the Fair Work Commission (FWC) found that an employee who had been made redundant was unfairly dismissed within the meaning of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (‘the Act’). The FWC firstly established that the dismissal was not a genuine redundancy as...

On 28 August Treasurer Josh Frydenberg MP directed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to conduct an inquiry into the markets for the supply of perishable agricultural goods. One of the main focuses of the inquiry will be the distribution of...

In 2016 the Fair Work Commission introduced provisions into most modern awards, which enable employees to request that their annual leave entitlements be cashed out. However, an employee cannot cash out annual leave if it will result in the employee’s remaining...

The Fair Work Ombudsman have updated the Fair Work Information Statement (FWIS), effective 13 August 2020. It is mandatory for employers to provide any new employees with a copy of the FWIS upon commencement of their employment. The FWIS contains information about the...

The COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges for the workforce, as employers adapt to constantly changing conditions. In a recent decision, the Federal Court found that an employee whose hours were unilaterally reduced by their employer was entitled to redundancy...

Many Australian farmers have experienced relief as the most significant drought on record has been alleviated by significant rainfall across the country. Climate scientist from the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Roger Stone has urged decision makers to take...

The coronavirus pandemic has created new challenges in many fields, including succession and estate planning. Now is an important time to consider and address how changing circumstances may have impacted on your succession and estate plans. One of the main challenges...

In a recent decision the Full Federal Court has again found that an independent contracting arrangement was in fact employment within the meaning of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). The Court took the usual approach, which is to assess the total employment relationship,...