Workplace

Let government favour firms with union-negotiated agreements when awarding contracts, plus speed up the Fair Work umpire — back it or block it?

This bill makes several changes to workplace law. It gives the Fair Work Commission tools to clear its growing caseload — dropping a step that forced hearings on whether a sacking even happened before disputes could be mediated, throwing out baseless claims faster, and blocking repeat vexatious applicants. It sets a fairer income cut-off so more truck drivers and owner-operators can challenge unfair contracts, given their high fuel and vehicle costs. It also removes a ban that stops the Commonwealth from preferring businesses with enterprise agreements when handing out grants and contracts, and it eases financial-reporting timing for the CFMEU administrator. Most speakers backed the Commission and truckie changes; the fight is over the procurement provision. The debate ran more than four hours and was still going — no vote counted yet.

Suspend the rules to swap in the Coalition's version of the Fair Work backlog bill — back it or block it?

The Coalition tried to suspend the Senate's normal rules to push its own bill dealing with the Fair Work Commission's backlog of unfair dismissal claims, in place of the government's bill.

Senator Jane Hume argued the government's bill hides an unrelated "Part 9" that would let the Commonwealth favour businesses with union-backed agreements in procurement, contracts and grants — which she called a corruption risk and a "CFMEU tax" opposed by business groups. The Coalition said its bill would pass the Fair Work reforms cleanly and quickly, without that provision. The government moved to shut down debate. The suspension was defeated 25 votes to 32.