Townsville City Council loses court action against CFMEU over worker’s medical
Townsville City Council has left court with its tail between its legs after losing an expensive legal fight picked with the CFMEU.
Laws
WorkSafe charges Victorian health department over COVID hotel quarantine program
The health and safety watchdog has charged Victoria’s health department with 58 breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act in relation to the state’s hotel quarantine program.
What if a limited use registered farm vehicle is in an accident?
The Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation (QDO) board asked us to investigate what happens when an unroadworthy registered motorbike/tractor is in an accident.
Victoria’s on-the-spot fines for OHS non-compliance now in force
The Victorian Government has introduced on-the-spot fines for employers who put the health and safety of their workers at risk, to eliminate bad behaviour and help ensure every worker gets home safely.
WorkSafe action latest: the rule of law in Victoria is on public trial
There has been a concerning development with the process to prosecute the Victorian Government over the 2020 Hotel Quarantine breaches that lead to 801 deaths in Victoria.
Scott Morrison says federal government won’t mandate no-jab no-job for all workplaces
A no-jab no-job policy will not be pursued by the federal government, which has said it is up to individual companies to make their own decisions about mandating vaccinations for staff.
SPC: First legal test case for employee-mandated COVID-19 vaccinations
Shepparton-based cannery SPC has become the first Australian company to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for all of its 450 onsite staff and visitors. The company’s decision has come off the back of the increased risk of transmission posed by the Delta variant of the virus.
NSW Court of Appeal finds innuendo is sexual harassment, observing the sexualisation of women in the workplace is often not explicit
In a landmark decision, the NSW Court of Appeal has upheld a NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal Appeal Panel finding of sexual harassment as a result of a ‘mortifying’ workplace health and safety poster; sending a clear message that less ‘explicit’ means of harassment such as innuendo, insinuation, implication, overtone, undertone and horseplay are not immune from liability.
CFMMEU officers face court over OHS COVID-19 breaches
The Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) has commenced legal action in court against the CFMMEU and two of its officers, for right of entry contraventions at the Central Energy Plant Towers Upgrade in South Brisbane. The ABCC alleges that the CFMMEU officers, Andrew Blakeley and Beau Seiffert, acted in an improper manner and repeatedly refused to sign in and comply with the site’s occupational health and safety coronavirus (COVID-19) requirements. Blakeley also allegedly verbally abused a site manager.
NT hot air balloon company fined $130K over tourist fan death
Outback Ballooning Pty Ltd, an Alice Springs-based hot air balloon company, has been convicted and fined $130,000 after pleading guilty to breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (the Act)
No pain, no gain – Tribunal rules that incapacity is a requirement for a Section 18 application
The South Australian Employment Tribunal has handed down another favourable decision for employers relating to Section 18 of the Return to Work Act 2014 (SA) – the section that allows injured workers to apply to the Tribunal for an order requiring the pre-injury employer to provide “suitable employment”.
Fair Work Commission orders reinstatement of an employee following incident
In unfair dismissal matters, reinstatement is the primary remedy and the Fair Work Commission (FWC) may not make an order for compensation unless it is satisfied that reinstatement is inappropriate.
Public prosecutor set to join WorkSafe’s investigation into deadly hotel quarantine scheme
A year-long investigation into Victoria’s deadly hotel quarantine scheme has taken a major step towards potential charges amid calls for justice.
Proposed workers comp laws will affect injured workers
Injured workers in South Australia will be badly affected by proposed changes to the workers’ compensation laws which are being made without proper scrutiny, say lawyers.
The Victorian government can’t evade the law
Why is it that Victorians, perhaps more specifically Melburnians, are having such a bad time with Covid in comparison to the other states? Why is this fourth lockdown occurring?
