Entries by

,

EA Deal Cheats Workers

During this Estimates session with the Fair Work Commission (FWC), I asked questions comparing award rates of pay with those in enterprise agreements (EAs). I was told that EAs use a multifactor approach on a case-by-case basis, with no strict requirements. Mr Furlong said that a key issue in comparing EAs with the Award in […]

,

A Case Study in Avoidance

This exchange during Senate Estimates with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) sums up just how bad Estimates has become under the Albanese Labor Government. The TGA is well aware that Senators only have a few minutes to ask questions, and they understand that the more they can stall, the less likely it is they’ll have […]

,

Rubber-Stamped Injustice

The Fair Work Ombudsman, when considering 33 cases involving claims of underpayment among coal miners, stated that it was using an Enterprise Agreement (EA) as the base document. This EA is being challenged as invalid and void due to alleged fundamental deficiencies and fraud. The EA pays less than what comparable workers receive under the […]

,

Coal LSL Under the Microscope – Again

During a session with Ms. Darlene Perks from Coal LSL, I inquired about the case of Mr. James Joseph, who is currently in a significant dispute with Coal LSL regarding payment of his long service leave entitlements. Ms. Perks stated that Coal LSL would not take any action until they received notification from the employer […]

,

Dodgy Degrees, Broken Rules — Where Is Home Affairs?

During the last Senate Estimates, I questioned Home Affairs on their failure to properly vet the migrants they are letting into Australia. Education is being used as a backdoor to permanent residency, with work requirements being rorted. 23,000 dodgy qualifications have been cancelled. These individuals abused the opportunity given to them — buying degrees and […]

,

Robert Pether’s Fight to Come Home

At Senate Estimates, I raised my ongoing concerns with the Department regarding Mr Robert Pether, an Australian engineer who was unfairly jailed in Iraq and is now being held under a travel ban that prevents him from returning home to Australia. His situation is dire — he is severely unwell, homeless, unable to work, and […]