FAIR WORK CHANGES:
The Fair Work
Amendment Bill 2014 has passed through
the lower house of parliament and is
currently before the Senate. The bill
proposes a number of amendments to
the
Fair Work Act 2009
, some of which
will take effect immediately upon the bill
receiving Royal Assent, with others to
come into effect up to six months later.
Some of AMMA’s key workplace reform
priorities are addressed in this bill, such
as changes to union site entry laws and a
more balanced and efficient new project
(greenfields) agreement making system.
GENDER REPORTING:
The Australian
Government has implemented new
minimum standards for businesses
reporting on gender diversity targets,
effective from 1 October 2014 for the
2014-15 reporting period.
Designed to boost women’s workforce
participation, employers are expected to
implement a policy or strategy which meets
one or more of the minimum standards set
by the Minister for Employer Eric Abetz by
way of legislative instrument.
Visit wgea.gov.au to learn more.
CONSTRUCTION CODE:
The
Victorian
Code of Practice for the Building and
Construction Industry 2014
has taken
effect, retaining the drug and alcohol
testing requirements introduced into the
state code and guidelines in July this year,
and including a new requirement that
successful tenderers provide the client
agency with a project-specific health and
safety management plan that meets the
client agency’s satisfaction.
To promote a ‘lawful, fair, efficient,
productive and safe’ industry, the Victorian
Code includes a raft of provisions relating
to workplace relations arrangements
and prohibitions on particular courses of
conduct. The federal building code has
not yet passed the Senate.
SUPER INCREASES DEFERRED:
The
passing of the Minerals Resource Rent Tax
Repeal and Other Measures Bill 2014 in
POLICY AT
a glance
A wrap-up of recent resource industry and employment policy developments
by AMMA executive director, policy and public affairs, Scott Barklamb.
September means employers’ compulsory
superannuation contributions will not rise
again until 2021.
The Superannuation Guarantee Charge
(SGC) as of 1 July 2014 was set at 9.5 per
cent of employee earnings, where it will
remain until 2021. On 1 July each year
beginning in 2021, the SGC will rise by 0.5
per cent, eventually reaching 12 per cent
by 1 July 2025.
Under Labor’s original legislation,
compulsory employer contributions were
set to reach 12 per cent by 1 July 2019,
therefore the recent legislative change
represents a six-year deferral.
RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGET:
The Warburton Review into Australia’s
Renewable Energy Target (RET) has been
handed to the government and publicly
released, recommending a number of
proposed adjustments.
AMMA particularly welcomes the flagged
adjustment of the RET to reflect energy
demand growth trends, which would be
a sound platform for renewable energy
subsidy if such a policy must be pursued.
However, we note there is also a strong
argument to scrap the RET altogether and
instead allow market-driven investment into
cleaner energy sources to reshape how our
nation powers its households and industry.
COASTAL SHIPPING:
AMMA welcomes
the federal government’s focus on
more competitive and efficient coastal
shipping that will better support resource
employers operating in a fast-moving
global marketplace.
This quarter, Minister for Infrastructure
and Regional Development, Warren Truss,
released his department’s Australia Sea
Freight 2012-13, which shows Labor’s
changes to Coastal Shipping are costing
jobs in the broader Australian economy
and require urgent redress.
COMPETITION POLICY REVIEW:
AMMA has highlighted the importance
of retaining existing prohibitions
against secondary boycotts by unions
in a strong submission to the Australian
Government’s Competition Policy Review.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES:
As the national
resource employer group, AMMA is
committed to keeping members up to
date on all the latest workplace policy
developments with its monthly legislative
update service, tailored specifically for
your organisational needs.
The Monthly Legislative Update is a
customised service which can cover a vast
range of policy information to help you
ensure compliance. AMMA’s policy experts
can ensure you only receive updates
relevant to your organisation. Email
for more info.
RP
Scott Barklamb
SUMMER 2014-15 RESOURCE
PEOPLE
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POLICY
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