Small business deal a ‘historic and important step forward’, ACTU chief says
The ACTU and Council of Australian Small Business Organisations are giving a joint press conference in Canberra, about their agreement to work together to progress multi-employer collective bargaining.
Cosboa acting chief executive, Alexi Boyd, said it is difficult for small business owners, particularly those just starting out, to understand what their obligations are under Australia’s industrial relation systems.
What we’re trying to do with this memorandum of understanding is start a conversation about what simplicity in the system for small businesses looks like. In the past, there’s been lots of conversations in industrial relations, trying to make the situation better for business. But this is the first time we’ve put small business first.
As the largest employer in the country, it’s important that small businesses do things right for their workers, but make sure that their compliance is correct as well. So we’re really thrilled to be working together with the ACTU for the months to come, to work out the detail about what this looks like.
ACTU secretary, Sally McManus, said:
It’s a really historic agreement between the ACTU and Cosboa. It’s really important that the employees in small businesses can benefit from the same benefits as employees in large businesses have had from bargaining, from collective bargaining.
The system of today was not built for the economy of today. We now have small businesses being the largest employer in the country. When we developed the enterprise bargaining system 30 years ago, that wasn’t the case. And so it was built for big businesses. So, we need to have new flexible options that work for small business so that we can see small business owners and their employees also benefit. So this goes to the issue of simplicity.
It goes to the issue of, also, compliance, like making sure that workers clearly understand what they’re meant to be paid, and same with the employers so they don’t have to worry about multiple awards or other that might be in a very small workplace.
We recognise, as the union movement, that small business doesn’t have the same resources as large business in terms of HR departments and things like that. And that it’s in their interest to be able to bargain in an efficient manner in a way that doesn’t take up the precious time that those employers need to run their businesses.
So we’re working on multi-employer options that work for small business so that we can see a bargaining system that works for more people and the different types and sizes. We have a one-size-fits-all system at the moment and currently, actually, it’s not fitting anyone. That change needs to happen, and today is a really historic and important step forward in modernising our current industrial relations system.
Key events
Queensland records 1,233 Covid cases, no new deaths
Queensland has recorded 1,233 new positive test results on Sunday, but no new deaths.
There are 283 people in hospital with Covid in Queensland and 10 in ICU.
Victoria records four deaths from Covid and 2,147 cases
Victoria also recorded four deaths of people with Covid-19, with 343 people in hospital and 22 in ICU.
There were 2,147 positive test results recorded in the past 24 hours.
NSW records four deaths from Covid and 3,394 cases
New South Wales recorded four deaths in people with Covid-19 on Monday and 1,879 people in hospital.
There were 3,394 positive test results recorded in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
COVID-19 update – Monday 29 August 2022
In the 24-hour reporting period to 4pm yesterday:
– 96.9% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine*
– 95.4% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine* pic.twitter.com/Jv7tZSuvkW— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 28, 2022
NSW premier to push for reduced isolation period at national cabinet meeting
NSW pensioners and concession card holders are being offered 10 free rapid antigen tests, as the NSW government pushes for a reduction to the isolation period for people who test positive.
More from AAP:
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has flagged he will push for a national reduction in the Covid-19 isolation period from a week to five days when national cabinet meets on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Customer Services minister Victor Dominello says pensioners in NSW will be able to pick up 10 free RATs through Service NSW Centres and at neighbourhood and community centres or disaster recovery centres.
“Although we are heading out of winter, the risk of COVID-19 remains and we want to ensure RATs are easily accessible for pensioners and concession card holders,” Dominello said in a statement on Monday.
Seniors Minister Mark Coure said the free tests built on an earlier commitment to pick up the federal government’s Concessional Access Program, which was discontinued last month.
“We are making sure we keep the pressure off as many people as possible by stepping up and filling the gap that really should have not been created in the first place,” he said.
The free tests are available until the end of October to Commonwealth Concession Card holders in NSW, including those who have a Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card, Health Care Card, and Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold, White or Orange card.
More than 6,000 NDIS participants homeless or at risk of homelessness in last financial year, inquiry hears
Luke Henriques-Gomes
The disability royal commission today kicks off a five-day session looking at experiences of homelessness among people with disability.
Ronald Sackville, the royal commission chair, said in his opening address that the commission had already heard evidence of people with disability experiencing homelessness or being at risk of homelessness for a number of hearings.
New figures revealed by Sackville showed that in 2021-2022, 6,306 national disability insurance scheme participants were either homeless or at risk of homelessness.
That included 1,594 who were confirmed as homeless, the data showed. There are about 500,000 NDIS participants in Australia.
Sackville said the figures revealed “a significant social problem that demands attention”.
He said:
Of course, NDIS participants are not the only people with disability who experience homelessness or are at risk of homelessness. Additional data will be presented during this hearing to provide a more complete picture of people with disability who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Kate Eastman SC, counsel assisting the commission, said the previous 2016 census found that people with severe or profound disability were also overrepresented among certain forms of marginal housing.
ACTU and Cosboa ‘not looking at any mandates’, says Alexi Boyd
Boyd says Cosboa’s members have “wholeheartedly got behind us” in supporting the agreement and the push for reform.
We’ve been talking about this for a number of months now, obviously, because it’s an important decision for Cosboa. We have the backing of our members and a recognition that what we are fighting for is to understand the differences … It’s not a one-size-fits-all. And that’s why it’s going to take time to articulate and go through the processes and find out what’s best, perhaps for an industry, or perhaps for a particular business. But we have to start working through this process one by one.
I think what’s really important about this is that this is an opt-in process. We’re not looking at any mandates or requirements or whole sector requirements or anything like that. It’s about finding what’s fit for purpose for a particular business so that they can help on a one by one basis and help them to navigate the system. Right now, the system is broken.
Our own Paul Karp asked Boyd what the threshold should be for employer bargaining – that is, what proportion of a workforce needs to be involved.
Boyd says that’s one of the details that is yet to be worked out.
It’s going to take time to work out what those agreements look like. It will take time and when we say multi-employer – that may be a different articulation to what’s been talked about in the past. But we need to work out the details as the time goes on.
Small business deal a ‘historic and important step forward’, ACTU chief says
The ACTU and Council of Australian Small Business Organisations are giving a joint press conference in Canberra, about their agreement to work together to progress multi-employer collective bargaining.
Cosboa acting chief executive, Alexi Boyd, said it is difficult for small business owners, particularly those just starting out, to understand what their obligations are under Australia’s industrial relation systems.
What we’re trying to do with this memorandum of understanding is start a conversation about what simplicity in the system for small businesses looks like. In the past, there’s been lots of conversations in industrial relations, trying to make the situation better for business. But this is the first time we’ve put small business first.
As the largest employer in the country, it’s important that small businesses do things right for their workers, but make sure that their compliance is correct as well. So we’re really thrilled to be working together with the ACTU for the months to come, to work out the detail about what this looks like.
ACTU secretary, Sally McManus, said:
It’s a really historic agreement between the ACTU and Cosboa. It’s really important that the employees in small businesses can benefit from the same benefits as employees in large businesses have had from bargaining, from collective bargaining.
The system of today was not built for the economy of today. We now have small businesses being the largest employer in the country. When we developed the enterprise bargaining system 30 years ago, that wasn’t the case. And so it was built for big businesses. So, we need to have new flexible options that work for small business so that we can see small business owners and their employees also benefit. So this goes to the issue of simplicity.
It goes to the issue of, also, compliance, like making sure that workers clearly understand what they’re meant to be paid, and same with the employers so they don’t have to worry about multiple awards or other that might be in a very small workplace.
We recognise, as the union movement, that small business doesn’t have the same resources as large business in terms of HR departments and things like that. And that it’s in their interest to be able to bargain in an efficient manner in a way that doesn’t take up the precious time that those employers need to run their businesses.
So we’re working on multi-employer options that work for small business so that we can see a bargaining system that works for more people and the different types and sizes. We have a one-size-fits-all system at the moment and currently, actually, it’s not fitting anyone. That change needs to happen, and today is a really historic and important step forward in modernising our current industrial relations system.
The Victorian government has announced a “jobs guarantee” for students who graduate with a social services qualification from TAFE.
It follows on yesterday’s announcement of free university courses for 10,000 nursing and midwifery students, as part of the Andrews government’s pre-skills summit skills blitz.
Students who graduate from a diploma of community services between 1 September this year and 31 August, 2024, will be guaranteed a job, assistant treasurer Danny Pearson said.
Registration for the program will open on 1 September.
In a statement, Pearson said:
Right now, there are thousands of Victorians in need – women experiencing family violence, children needing care and Victorians with disability looking for support.
That’s why we are looking for people who are ready to make a difference and apply for jobs that matter now.
Guaranteeing graduates in priority areas a job when they finish their study will help thousands of Victorians get the jobs they want, to give Victorians the care they need.”
Thunderstorms and heavy rain expected across Victoria today
After a warm and sunny weekend, Victorians will see heavy rain and thunderstorms today.
Severe storms are expected in the west of the state, from Mildura to Hamilton and across to Ballarat, Maryborough and Kerang. There is also a likelihood of severe thunderstorms in the central and north east districts, as well as in Melbourne.
It’s currently bucketing down with a lot of thunder here in central Victoria.
Are you out and about enjoying the sunshine much of the state is seeing today?
It might be a case of enjoying it while you can, with @BOM_Vic forecasting thunderstorms (including severe – shown in red) over much of Victoria developing from late Monday morning.
1/3 pic.twitter.com/kbbIxZg9zs
— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) August 28, 2022
Fortescue Metals Group posts second-highest ever full-year profit
Fortescue Metals Group, Twiggy Forrest’s Western Australian iron ore mining company, has posted its second-highest ever full-year profit, AAP reports.
Australia’s third-biggest iron ore miner reported underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation of $A15.4 billion for the year to June 30, 2022.
Net profit after tax was $A9.0b.
Record shipments of 189 million tonnes contributed to the second-highest earnings and operating cash flow in the Pilbara miner’s history.
Outgoing Fortescue CEO Elizabeth Gaines said Fortescue was accelerating the transition to a green energy and resources company and was leading the way on decarbonisation.
She said the company had experienced a “strong start” to FY23.
Net cash flow from operating activities was $A9.6b and free cash flow was $A5.2b after investing $A4.5b in capital expenditure.
Fortescue said it has a strong balance sheet with cash on hand of $A7.6b and net debt of $A1.3b at June 30.
The fully franked final dividend of $A1.21 per share brings the total dividend declared in FY22 to $A2.07 per share.
Adam Morton on Albanese government’s mixed messages on energy
The Albanese government has to decide if it wants people to think it is taking the climate crisis seriously or whether it wants to continue supporting new oil and gas developments, writes environment editor Adam Morton.
Adam writes that while the Albanese government has made some progress in its first 100 days in government – passing legislation to enshrine a 43% emissions reduction target, supporting the offshore wind industry, encouraging the uptake of electric cars – it has also repeated the actions of previous governments in supporting new fossil fuel exploration.
He says the language from the government in supporting new oil and gas exploration permits, and a reference to the as yet unrealised promise of carbon capture and storage technology, “sounds a lot like climate denial”.
It was on display last week when the resources minister, Madeleine King, announced the release of new areas along the Australian coast for the oil and gas industry to explore and potentially exploit.
You can read Adam’s full column here:
Comanchero charged with murder
Comanchero bikie boss Tarek Zahed has been arrested and charged with the murder of a man in Sydney’s west eight years ago, AAP reports.
Police arrested the 42-year-old during a vehicle stop on New South Head Road in Edgecliff at 4.50pm yesterday, after shooting out his car windows with rubber bullets.
He was taken to Surry Hills police station and later charged with the murder of 29-year-old Youssef Assoum on 11 December 2014.
Homicide squad commander Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said Zahed was one of several Taskforce Erebus targets allegedly linked to serious crime:
We will be alleging this person is responsible for the killing of Mr Assoum in 2014 and that his senior position in the Comanchero OMCG links him to a number of other matters relevant to police.
Zahed – the Comanchero national sergeant-at-arms – was also charged with kidnap in company with intent to commit serious indictable offence (special aggravated kidnap).
He was refused bail and is set to appear at Downing Centre local court today.
Victoria paying more than $1.1m a day to imprison people on remand
The Victorian government is paying more than $1.1m a day to keep people on remand in prisons, Benita Kovolos reports.
The remand population in Victoria – that is, people who have not been sentenced and in many cases are awaiting trial, meaning they have not pleaded or been found guilty – has grown 140% in a decade, thanks in large part to a tightening of the state’s bail laws.
At the same time, the sentenced prisoner population has fallen, thanks in part to a reduction in jail terms due to the risk of Covid-19 in prisons.
You can read Benita’s full piece here:
NSW minister offers olive branch to rail unions
An olive branch has been offered to the NSW rail unions in a bid to end the long-running industrial stoush with the state government and avert another strike this week, AAP reports.
Employee relations minister Damien Tudehope says the government has withdrawn its requirement that a new enterprise agreement be reached before it begins modifications the union wants on the New Intercity Fleet (NIF). The sticking point in the protracted negotiations has been the government’s insistence the agreement be locked in before the modifications begin.
Tudehope said:
After appropriate testing and warranty confirmation, the government will immediately authorise the commencement of work to make the alterations to the NIF. The offer is conditional upon the rail unions agreeing that, pending the finalisation of the new enterprise agreement, all unions will call off any further industrial action.
The mothballed NIF has been at the centre of negotiations with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, which maintains the trains are not yet safe to operate in NSW.
Transport minister David Elliott has put the price of modifications to the fleet at $1.1bn, or $264m “depending on how you account for the cost”.
The union has been conducting extensive industrial action including targeted, rolling stoppages throughout August. The action is due to culminate with workers refusing to operate foreign-made trains on Wednesday, which would affect about 70% of the fleet.
The offer will be discussed at a meeting between rail unions and government officials today.
The government statement said:
The NSW government urges the rail unions to accept this offer, and put a stop to its industrial action, today.
Push for full employment
Acoss, the ACTU and the Business Council of Australia have released a joint policy paper saying that achieving and sustaining full employment should be the “guiding framework” of the jobs and skills summit.
That would include “reducing inequity and removing barriers to participation in the labour market”.
Which, according to Acoss acting CEO Edwina MacDonald, would mean raising the jobseeker rate.
In a joint statement with the ACTU and BCA, MacDonald said:
If the hundreds of thousands of people who are looking for paid work are supported to join the workforce, that will be a win for those currently left out, a win for employers, and a big step towards Full Employment in Australia.
We proudly stand with unions and business ready to work together with Government to find less brutal ways to contain inflation and address labour shortages, so that our incomes can grow again, the quality of jobs – including in essential care services – improves, and no one is left behind.
Jobseeker rate lobbying
As mentioned earlier, the jobseeker rate will be among reforms discussed at the jobs and skills summit this week.
The Australian Council of Social Skills has said it will lobby the government to make the reform a “core goal” in a bid to reduce the social harm of joblessness, particularly for 750,000 long-term unemployed people.
Acting Acoss CEO Edwina MacDonald said:
With ambition and commitment we can create an economy where people secure the jobs and paid working hours they need, wages and other incomes – including jobseeker payment – are growing again, and no one is left behind.
You can read Peter Hannam’s article on this here:
Australia announces $31.5m in medical research grants
Sarah Martin
New Covid-19 treatments, hospital trials, and further research into long Covid are among more than a dozen projects that will be funded by a $31.5m boost from the Medical Research Future Fund.
The health minister, Mark Butler, will announce the grants on Monday, saying the government is committed to supporting medical researchers to drive innovation and contribute to global efforts to understand Covid 19.
Monash university will receive more than $10m from the grant pool across three different projects, including $4m for a hospital trial on antivirals, and more than $6m for the Prophecy study which compares the immune response between healthy and vulnerable people and children to evaluate their protection against future variants.
The study will go towards better understanding how to improve the vaccine response in vulnerable patient groups.
The University of Melbourne has successfully secured four research grants, the largest of which is $3.8m to test a new nasal spray for elderly Australians for whom vaccines may lose potency. The new medicine, called INNA-051, is seen as complementary to vaccines, and strengthens natural defences against Covid-19 in the nose where infection starts.
Researchers at the university have also secured $3m for studies into the immune response across age groups and vulnerable populations, $1m for the development of an mRNA-based antiviral therapeutic, and about $1m to study airborne transmission of the disease.
This study will include experiments to determine how aerosolised particles and viruses move through complex spaces, and will also examine the effectiveness of various mitigation measures.
The University of NSW will also receive $1m to look at aerosol transmission, including to model the movement of the virus inside a hospital ICU ward.
Along with grants for new treatments and medications, the government will also announce $3m for the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to establish a Australian COVID-19 Register and linked data set.
The new platform will integrate for the first time Covid-19 case information with a range of relevant existing health data sets. The new data set will help inform public health planning, but will also be made available to external researchers.
Butler said the research would give insights into the longer-term impact of Covid-19 on the health of Australians and help inform disease prediction, diagnosis and treatment.
Hamilton bound for Brisbane
Hamilton is coming to Brisbane, and creator Lin-Manuel Miranda spoke to ABC News Breakfast this morning from inside what appeared to be a space capsule.
Hamilton has already opened in Melbourne and Sydney.
Miranda told the ABC:
Hamilton always kind of surpasses every hope I had for it. I remember thinking as I was writing it, ‘I hope there are enough history teachers that will take their classes that we’ll hopefully run for a few years and make our money back for our investors’ … it just continues to resonate with people and I can’t explain that.
He said he was proud the show had supported and promoted hundreds of non-white actors around the world:
That’s one of the things I think I’m proudest of is that so often Hamilton is the first entry in an incredibly talented actor’s CV. And I know that from anecdotal evidence, that the Australian cast are like rockstars in Australia and I can’t wait to see what they do next and I’m thrilled that we get to be a footnote in their journey as artists.
John Farnham in intensive care after cancer surgery
The singer remains in a stable condition in intensive care, according to a statement released by his family this morning.
The Farnham family said they wanted to acknowledge and thank everyone for their ongoing messages and well wishes that have been shared throughout the last week:
It really lifts our spirits knowing that everyone is thinking of John.
Jill Farnham said:
John remains in a stable condition in ICU following the removal of a cancerous tumour in his mouth on Tuesday. He is awake and responding well to the care he’s receiving.
