Category: Employment

In response to COVID-19, the QLD Government has amended the Industrial Relations Act 2016 to defer public sector wage increases until 2022.

Regulations introduced in NSW have provided a new exemption to working with children checks, permitting persons to work with children while their application is pending where certain requirements are met.

VIC Parliament has passed reforms making vaccinations compulsory for health workers to protect them from preventable diseases and minimise the risk of transmission between vulnerable patients.

Victoria has introduced a new framework requiring the public sector, councils and universities to promote gender equality and to take positive action towards achieving gender equality.

In Pezzimenti v Rotary International [2019] FCCA 1854, the Federal Circuit Court awarded over $200,000 to an executive for unfair dismissal, after a performance improvement plan was inappropriately used to orchestrate his exit.

In this case, the Federal Court clarified how the entitlement of 10 days of leave is to be calculated for national system employees.

The Working With Children scheme in QLD has been amended to clarify certain terminology, streamline existing processes and to bolster protective measures in relation to children.

In anticipation of the NDIS rollout in South Australia, changes have been made to the relevant working with children and disability worker laws to align the requirements with NDIS standards.