THE Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) has slammed Qantas's push to relax isolation rules for aviation workers, saying the airline would rather sacrifice workers' health than fill workforce gaps by reinstating the 2000 workers it 'illegally sacked'.
“Public health is not about maximising Alan Joyce’s quarterly profit results," TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said. "Workers need isolation rules to stay, even if that is inconvenient to Mr Joyce.
"What Mr Joyce misleadingly calls absenteeism is actually sick leave, and every Australian worker is entitled to that."
In 2020, aviation lost 12,500 highly trained workers through redundancies and illegal outsourcing by Qantas, according to the TWU. In July 2021, the Federal Court found Qantas illegally outsourced its ground crew to prevent them bargaining and taking industrial action, Mr Kaine said.
"There are 2000 Qantas ground crew sitting at home waiting to be reinstated, after being illegally sacked so Qantas could rehire them on cheaper pay and worse conditions," he said.
"Rather than risking the health of everyone by scrapping isolation rules, Qantas could reinstate these 2000 workers to fill the gaps in our airports.
"Qantas pocketed $865 million in JobKeeper and at the same time illegally outsourced its entire ground operations.
“Now the airline doesn’t have enough customer service workers, baggage handlers or ground staff to respond to surging demand."
SPIRIT SUPER has welcomed the purchase of Intsaclustr by NetApp, a NASDAQ listed company. Intsaclustr is an industry-leading platform for deploying and managing open-source data and workflow applications as a service.
Intsaclustr was founded within the Australian National University and received capital from ANUConnect Ventures, a partnership between ANU and MTAA Super (now Spirit Super).
Spirit Super chief investment officer, Ross Barry said, “Not only has this been a very successful financial investment, but it is also part of our 'impact investing' platform and so Spirit Super members can feel proud that their investment is driving home-grown technology and job creation right here in Australia.
“Spirit has the ability to look to opportunities some of the larger super funds may pass over. Our direct investment in ANUConnect Ventures is a great example," Dr Barry said.
“More generally, Spirit Super is committed to investment in regional Australia and restoring our domestic industrial fabric. The ecosystem created in Canberra with the collaboration of ANU, ANUConnect Ventures and the ACT Government has extensive multiplier effects on local employment.
“Spirit Super congratulates the founders and management of Intsaclustr, the CEO and team at ANUConnect Ventures and the ANU. It's a great testament in the ability of Australians to create value and grow businesses in the technology sector.” Dr Barry said.
About ANU Connect Ventures
ANUConnect Ventures is a 50/50 joint venture between the ANU and Spirit Super. Incorporated in 2005 the $47 million fund was established to invest in unique ideas, discoveries and inventions coming out of the ANU and ACT. The joint fund was supported by a $10 million commitment from the ACT Government. Investments were aimed at early-stage ventures within the Canberra region, with exceptional commercial potential, and economic and societal benefit to the ACT. Now, 16 years later, the returns on these investments are flowing into the ACT, with two of Canberra’s high-growth tech companies long term beneficiaries of the joint fund. This could not have been possible without the on-going support of Spirit Super (formerly MTAA Super), the Australian National University, and the ACT Government. The fund is closed to new investments but continues to support portfolio companies as they grow.
About Spirit Super
Spirit Super is multi-industry fund built for hard working Australians with support they can count on, low fees and a history of strong returns. It has 325,000 members (as at June 2021) and representatives around the country.
THE Financial Services Council (FSC) has today released guidance to assist superannuation trustees and fund managers with divestment of Russian assets.
Despite superannuation funds only having a small exposure to Russian investments in the context of the $3.5 trillion superannuation system, the guidance reinforces the resolve of the financial services sector in ensuring that it meets the strong expectations of divestment outlined by the Australian Government.
FSC CEO Blake Briggs, said, “Divestment of Russian assets complements a range of Russian sanctions imposed by the government. The guidance supports superannuation trustees implement sanctions, cease new investments, and divest from Russian assets.
”By providing guidance, we aim to ensure that divestment occurs in a way that is consistent with the best financial interests of members and trustees’ legal and fiduciary obligations.”
The guidance, which is available on the FSC website sets out guiding principles for superannuation trustees; asset managers directly investing superannuation capital; and asset managers operating managed investment schemes with superannuation funds as investors.
The guidance covers:
what constitutes a ‘Russian asset’;
steps to be taken by superannuation trustees:
issues in relation to ownership and control; and
how the investment process will achieve divestment.
Mr Briggs said the FSC was confident this contribution will assist the broader industry in ensuring divestment occurs so that the superannuation sector can play its role in supporting international sanctions against Russia.
The FSC is a peak body which sets mandatory standards and develops policy for more than 100 member companies in one of Australia’s largest industry sectors, financial services. FSC Full Members represent Australia’s retail and wholesale funds management businesses, superannuation funds, life insurers and financial advice licensees. Supporting Members represent the professional services firms such as ICT, consulting, accounting, legal, recruitment, actuarial and research houses. The financial services industry is responsible for investing $3 trillion on behalf of more than 15.6 million Australians. The pool of funds under management is larger than Australia’s GDP and the capitalisation of the Australian Securities Exchange, and is the fourth largest pool of managed funds in the world.
Australian Resources and Energy Group, AMMA has welcomed the appointment of Paul Schneider to the Fair Work Commission FWC), announced this morning by Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations Michaelia Cash.
"Mr Schneider is well known and widely respected within Western Australia's industrial relations community," AMMA chief executive Steve Knott said.
"He brings significant experience from across the resources industry -- the powerhouse of Western Australia's economy -- and in particular the offshore and maritime support sectors where industrial relations can be both complex and challenging."
Mr Schneider's appointment as a Commissioner comes shortly after the news Deputy President Amanda Mansini will leave the FWC to assume her new appointment as Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
AMMA noted "with some concern" the FWC would remain as having 43 statutorily appointed members -- a historically low level of resourcing.
"The Morrison Government should very seriously consider additional appointments to the FWC prior to the 2022 Federal Election," Mr Knott said.
"When the ALP left office in September 2013 there were 46 tribunal members and Australia's labour force contained some 11.6 million people.
"Today the FWC has 43 members and the labour force contains approximately 13.4 million people.
"Not only is the FWC administering an employment system with 1.7 million additional users than when the ALP was last in office, but matters are increasing in both volume and complexity.
"This includes a raft of COVID-19 related workplace disputes that are swamping the commission currently and are only expected to grow.
"AMMA congratulates the Attorney-General for making a high quality FWC appointment today.
"It is AMMA's firm view that at least three more appointments would not only be well justified prior to the Election, but very necessary to maintain the functioning of the FWC."
AUSTRALIA'S rapidly deteriorating security environment, which is characterised by unprecedented levels of foreign interference, cyber attacks and terrorism, has led to a record high workload for the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security in the 46th Parliament,according to the Chair of the Committee, Senator James Paterson
He said throughout the term, the PJCIS tabled 38 reports, including 23 tabled in the past 12 months alone. This is equal only to the workload of the 45th Parliament, and far exceeds the 22 reports tabled in the 44th Parliament and the ten reports in the 43rd Parliament.
"Given this workload, the committee reiterates its recommendation in its Annual Report 2020-21 that the parts of the Intelligence Services Act 2001 which govern the work of the committee should be referred to the PJCIS at the commencement of the 47th Parliament," Senator Patterson said.
Of note the committee recommended passage of:
the Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Bill 2020 establishing three new warrants that give law enforcement agencies effective powers to enable swift and decisive action against the rising challenge of serious online crime;
the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure Protection) Bill 2022 which establishes critical tools that will bring together government and industry to strengthen defences against significant threats from nation state adversaries and criminal actors;
the Intelligence Oversight and Other Legislation Amendment (Integrity Measures) Bill 2020 ensuring that vital oversight and scrutiny keeps pace with new intelligence service capabilities to retain public confidence and ensure scarce resources are most effectively targeted to the most serious risks; and
securing the listings of both Hamas and Hezbollah, in their entirety, as terrorist organisations.
In addition, the committee’s ground-breaking Inquiry into national security risks affecting the Australian higher education and research sector report made 27 bipartisan, unanimous recommendations to address the serious threats posed by foreign interference to our most critical research institutions.
The Inquiry into Extremist Movements and Radicalismin Australia remains ongoing, with the committee presenting an interim report recommending the PJCIS of the 47th Parliament conclude this important work.
An inquiry into the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Corrective Services Authorities) Bill 2022 – referred to the PJCIS on 21 February 2022 – will commence in the 47th Parliament, if the government chooses to progress it, as will the Review of the Migration and Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Information Provisions) Bill 2020.
The committee’s Review of Administration and Expenditure No. 20 (2020–21) – Australian Intelligence Agencies and Statutory Reviews of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018 and of the Counter-Terrorism (Temporary Exclusion Orders) Act 2019 have commenced and will be finalised by the newly appointed Committee in the 47th Parliament.
The committee has agreed to launch a review of the listing of the eight terrorist organisations, including Hamas and the National Socialist Order, for consideration by the PJCIS of the 47th Parliament.
Senator Paterson said the PJCIS would continue to experience a heavy workload as threats to the nation escalate.
"The most important task of the PJCIS is to help keep Australia safe and free," he said. "With foreign interference, cyber threats and terrorism at their highest levels yet, this task has never been more important.
"Our strategic environment is experiencing the most consequential realignment since the Second World War and we need to ensure security agencies have the right tools to protect our nation, and the right oversight mechanisms to ensure they retain public confidence for their important work.
"I thank all members of the committee for their tireless commitment to this task over the 46th Parliament," Senator Paterson said.
Further information on the review as well as a copies of the reports mentioned above, can be obtained from the Committee’s website.
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