The Australian Workers’ Union is now counting down the days until April 28 when the new hourly minimum rate for fruit pickers will come into force
Last November, the AWU secured an historic industrial win for fruit pickers by successfully arguing the Horticulture Award should be altered to ensure every worker is entitled to take home the minimum casual rate of pay, currently $25.41.
The Fair Work Commission has now announced the guaranteed hourly rate will come into force on April 28 and will be calculated daily as recommended by the AWU, and not per pay period as advocated by the farmers’ lobby.
“It’s fantastic that from April 28 fruit pickers will get some certainty about how much they should be legally paid for their labour — the union is counting the days,” said AWU National Secretary Daniel Walton.
“For too long the farmers’ lobby has seen fruit pickers as somehow beneath the usual standards offered to Australian workers. But the hard work of pickers deserves the same minimum wage dignity afforded to everyone else.
“We are grateful the Commission has ruled hourly rate earnings must be calculated daily. One of the great advantages of last year’s historic ruling was the clarity it provided. Fruit pickers — who often have limited English and information about Australian laws – will now find it easy to assess if they are being ripped off by their employer.
“Now at the end of each day every picker should be assured that their work netted at least $25.41 an hour. If not, their employer is stealing from them and breaking the law.
“It is deeply disappointing that the farmers’ lobby saw fit to try and obfuscate the simplicity of the system by arguing that the calculation should be made per pay period. We are glad they were not successful.
“This ruling is a huge advance for this industry and for all the farmers who are already doing the right thing.”
Month: February 2022
CAMDEN COUNCIL FINED $750,000 AFTER MEN'S SHED MEMBER FATALITY
Camden Council has been fined $750,000 after a member of a local Men’s Shed was killed installing irrigation pipe at the Camden Bicentennial Equestrian Park in 2018.
The Council was investigated by SafeWork NSW and pleaded guilty to a breach of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 in the NSW District Court.
The incident occurred on 3 July 2018, when untrained volunteers from the Men’s Shed tried to move a 500-metre length of PVC irrigation pipe by towing it with a tractor. A male volunteer was struck on the head by the pipe while it was being towed, suffering fatal injuries.
The NSW District Court found the risk of being struck by the pipe was foreseeable and that Camden Council failed to implement safety systems or conduct a risk assessment for the project.
The court also found that the volunteer was not qualified or trained to perform the work and the purported supervisor of the project had no qualifications in irrigation work or use of heavy plant.
SafeWork Executive Director of Investigations and Enforcement, Rick Bultitude said that while volunteers perform essential tasks throughout the community without pay or reward, they are still considered workers under Work Health Safety (WHS) legislation.
“Organisations who have workers have work, health and safety duties and obligations not just to paid staff, but also for any volunteers they engage,” Mr Bultitude said.
“Workers and volunteers also have WHS obligations of their own, including taking reasonable care of the health and safety of themselves and others.
“The person conducting a business is required to ensure an adequate risk assessment is conducted for work undertaken, and ensure appropriate information and instruction is provided to any volunteers.
“And volunteers should never be used to undertake work for which they are either unqualified or untrained to perform,” Mr Bultitude said.
Camden Council has the right to appeal the sentence.
NSW records worst ambulance response rate in a decade
NSW Ambulance response times are the worst they have been in at least a decade while the NSW Government has cut spending to the service, according to the latest Productivity Commission report.
The average wait time for the most urgent cases in the 2020/21 financial year were one full minute longer than the previous year in NSW, up to 12.3 minutes from 11.3 minutes – again exceeding the accepted target of 10 minutes.
It is the sixth slowest ambulance response time for urgent cases in capital cities across the country behind the ACT at 9 minutes, WA at 9.4 minutes, the NT at 9.5 minutes, Victoria at 10 minutes and Queensland at 11.3 minutes.
The report also found spending on NSW Ambulance went backwards at $140.9 per person in the population from $142.05 in the previous financial year.
The NSW Ambulance service remains critically under-resourced per head of population with only the St John’s Ambulance in Western Australia having fewer paramedics per 100,000 people.
“The NSW Government’s decision to spend less on paramedics during the worst pandemic in 100 years is incomprehensible,” said Health Services Union NSW Secretary Gerard Hayes.
“Unprecedented pressure and fewer resources is a recipe for disaster. Wait times for urgent cases have blown out across the board and it’s the people of NSW and paramedics that are suffering.
“Ambulance response times can be the difference between life or death for a patient needing urgent medical treatment.
“Paramedics are at breaking point because there are simply not enough of them.
“The NSW Government needs to stop cutting funding to the service, employ more paramedics and also retain the ones we already have.
“That will only happen if their wages reflect the skills and productivity our paramedics contribute to the health and hospital system.”
Popular Memory Walk & Jog is returning to the Hunter in 2022
Locals are getting ready for the Hunter Memory Walk & Jog, returning in 2022, which will be held on Sunday 27 March at the beautiful Speers Point Park.
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe AM said Dementia Australia was excited to see the Memory Walk & Jog event return to Hunter in 2022.
“The Memory Walk & Jog series is Dementia Australia’s biggest fundraising initiative, and helps us provide invaluable support, education and resources for people living with dementia in Australia, their carers, families and friends,” Ms McCabe said.
“It has been my pleasure to take part in many Memory Walk & Jog events across Australia over the years, and I attest to how enjoyable and rewarding they are. They really do offer fun for all the family!
“These events are so important, not just from a fundraising perspective, but also because they are opportunities for people impacted by dementia to gather, to get active and to share stories with people in similar circumstances.
“Together, we can make the world look brighter for people with dementia. Let’s show them they are not alone!”
Currently, there are an estimated 157,000 people living with dementia in New South Wales. Without a medical breakthrough, the number of people living with dementia is expected to increase to an estimated 345,000 people by 2058. Events like Memory Walk & Jog play an important role not only in funding support, but also in raising awareness of dementia.
There are 19 Memory Walk & Jog events planned across Australia in 2022, which represents the series’ largest event program to date.
Each event offers fun for people of all ages and abilities. The course is family-friendly, and suitable for all levels of fitness. Each event is designed for people of all ages and abilities to select whether they take part in a walk, jog or run of 2km, 8km or a timed 8km course. Participate as an individual, get a team together, or even come in fancy dress.
The safety and wellbeing of Memory Walk & Jog participants, volunteers and staff is Dementia Australia’s top priority at these events. The team is constantly monitoring the evolving situation with COVID-19, and remains in communication with the relevant federal, state and local authorities.
A robust COVID-safe plan has been tailored for each event and will be adapted as needed.
Register for the Hunter Memory Walk & Jog event now, or find out about the other events planned across Australia at www.memorywalk.com.au
If you can’t attend one of the planned events in the series, why not consider organising your own group or individual walk or jog, with a My Way or Walk & Jog Impossible Challenge? More details can be found at www.memorywalk.com.au
Dementia Australia is the source of trusted information, education and services for the estimated half a million Australians living with dementia, and the almost 1.6 million people involved in their care. We advocate for positive change and support vital research. We are here to support people impacted by dementia, and to enable them to live as well as possible. No matter how you are impacted by dementia or who you are, we are here for you.
For support, please contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. An interpreter service is available and the Helpline is open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday excluding public holidays. The National Dementia Helpline is funded by the Australian Government. People looking for information can also visit dementia.org.au
Rio Tinto's toxic workplace culture a legacy of anti-union zealotry
A Rio Tinto report into workplace culture finding unacceptable and systemic bullying, sexism and racism is shocking but would not surprise workers, the Western Mineworkers Alliance said today.
The report by Elizabeth Broderick found that of all Rio Tinto’s divisions globally, bullying and sexual harassment were highest in its iron ore division, in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. More than half of Rio Tinto’s iron ore employees reported experiencing bullying and one third of women in iron ore experienced sexual harassment.
Mining and Energy Union President Tony Maher said that Rio Tinto’s toxic workplace culture had been exacerbated by the mining multinational’s push to deunionise in the 1990s and move workers onto individual contracts.
“Rio Tinto became anti-union zealots with their so-called ‘direct engagement’ approach. But crushing union presence on their sites removed a collective voice and important layer of protection for workers.
“It meant workers were dependent on the approval of their immediate supervisor to get a pay rise or even to keep their job, leading to sycophancy, nepotism and fear of raising issues like bullying and harassment. Direct engagement has left a damaging legacy for Rio Tinto’s workplace culture.”
Australian Workers Union National Secretary Dan Walton said the findings in Broderick report echoed those in a union survey of WA iron ore miners’ experiences of sexual harassment and assault undertaken last year. The WMWA raised concerns from the survey during last year’s WA parliamentary inquiry into sexual harassment in the FIFO mining industry.
The WMWA told that inquiry that its extensive industry survey had found:
· One in five women said they had experienced physical acts of sexual assaults.
· One in five women said they had been explicitly or implicitly offered career advancement or benefits in return for sexual favours.
· One in three women said they had received requests for sexual favours, and repeated invitations to engage in sexual relationships.
“Our members spoke loud and clear about unacceptable behaviour on site and their lack of trust in managers and supervisors to take action. Women told us about being threatened with ‘blacklisting’ if they pursued complaints of sexual harassment.
“Rio Tinto has an opportunity now to take real action to address its workplace culture. Feel-good management training is not enough. Managers and supervisors must be held to account and workers must be supported to organise collectively through their unions to build confidence and give them a voice to deal with issues like bullying and harassment. It’s a positive step that Rio Tinto has released this report and we are ready to work collaboratively to improve the working lives of our members and all mineworkers.”
The Western Mineworkers Alliance is a joint venture by the Australian Workers Union and Mining and Energy Union to represent Pilbara iron ore workers.
CCTV released as investigations continue into East Maitland armed robbery
Detectives have released CCTV vision as investigations continue into an armed robbery in the state’s Hunter Region last month.
Shortly after 10.15pm on Tuesday 4 January 2022, a man – armed with a rifle – entered a service station on Newcastle Street, East Maitland, and threatened a 27-year-old male attendant.
The man threatened the employee, demanding cash and cigarettes, before leaving the store in a westerly direction.
Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were notified of the incident and established a crime scene, which was forensically examined by specialist police.
The employee was not physically injured during the incident.
As investigations continue, detectives have released CCTV vision of a man who may be able to assist with ongoing inquiries.
The man depicted in the CCTV is described as being of solid build, between 160-165cm tall, with a dark complexion. The man is depicted wearing dark-coloured clothing and red sneakers.
Labor backing Morrison’s Trojan Horse for gas
Greens Leader Adam Bandt has expressed disappointment at Labor’s capitulation to Scott Morrison’s plan to give $600 million in public money to Snowy Hydro to build a gas-fired power plant that experts say we don’t need.
In 2021 Labor said the plan looked like “a cynical attempt to pick a fight on gas and continue the climate wars, or to reward the major Liberal donor who owns the Kurri Kurri site.
The Greens also said non-binding ideas of converting to green hydrogen down the line are a fig leaf for new gas infrastructure.
Greens leader, Adam Bandt MP said:
“Gas is as dirty as coal. This power plant is Scott Morrison’s Trojan horse for more methane gas, and now Labor is backing it too.
“If you’re spending public money on new coal and gas projects, you’re not serious about tackling the climate crisis.
“Public money should go to schools and hospitals, not dirty gas plants that aren’t needed and will make the climate crisis worse.
“The Liberals have got to go, but with Labor wanting more coal and gas, the only way to get climate action is to put the Greens in balance of power.
“Non-binding pledges about green hydrogen don’t stop this from being a terrible idea. The Kurri Kurri plan is so flawed that there is a major risk that it will run on diesel before it ever runs on hydrogen.
“Currently there is no gas to feed the proposed plan, which is why it is planned to run on diesel for up to 12 months, after which new gas fields like Narrabri will be fracked to supply Kurri Kurri.
“It’s stupid to use public money to build a methane-fuelled power plant that may some day be powered by something else instead of just building more renewables and storage right now.”
Myanmar coup: one year on and still no action from Australia
Australian Greens foreign affairs spokesperson Senator Janet Rice has condemned the Australian Government’s resounding inaction against the Myanmar military and again urged the Foreign Minister to impose targeted sanctions against Junta leaders and their business interests.
Senator Rice said:
“It’s now been a year since the coup in Myanmar, the brutal junta are still in power, and the Australian Government has done nothing but sit on its hands watching the body count pile up and democracy fade into memory.
“Junta security forces have killed almost 1500 people, including 75 children, and locked up thousands of journalists, activists, and other civilians – including Australian Sean Turnell and Myanmar’s democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
“The Greens are again urging the Australian Government to impose targeted sanctions against Commander-in-Chief Sr Gen Min Aung Hlaing, other key junta leaders, and their business interests. It is unconscionable that we haven’t already when that’s exactly what hundreds of organisations on the ground in Myanmar have long been calling for.
“The US, UK and Canada had imposed targeted sanctions against the military regime months ago, and have done so again today. Australia is an outlier among our allies as we continue to ignore a year of human rights abuses and tacitly legitimise undemocratic rule.
“Meanwhile our government-owned Future Fund is investing in companies that are directly linked to Myanmar’s violent military junta.
“The coup anniversary statement from the Foreign Minister today is an insult to the people in Myanmar and the Burmese community here in Australia. All concern and no action does nothing to halt the junta’s violence.
“What is the Foreign Minister waiting for? Parliament has now passed Magnitsky legislation – it’s time we use it.
“While facing violent retribution from the Myanmar military, we’ve seen thousands of brave people in Myanmar fighting every day to end this injustice and restore democracy. The Australian Government must finally stand with them and take action against this coup.”
$800 bonus to support Australia’s Aged Care workforce
The Morrison Government will provide $210 million to support the aged care workforce to continue to care for older Australians during the COVID 19 pandemic.
A bonus of up to $800 will be made in two instalments of up to $400 each.
The bonus will be paid to workers providing care and support in Government subsidised home care and to residential aged care workers. The payments will be for clinical care workers and expanded to all those providing direct care, food or cleaning services in Government subsidised residential care.
Minister for Health and Aged Greg Hunt said the payments acknowledged the response of the aged care workforce to the ongoing challenges of the pandemic.
“The Government is providing these bonus payments to aged care workers in recognition of their dedication in continuing to care for our vulnerable older Australians during these difficult times,” Minister Hunt said.
“These workers have been caring for those who have been most at risk through the pandemic and their dedication has been outstanding.”
“These payments will also be an extra bonus for those who recently retired but have responded to the request to return to work during the recent workforce shortages.”
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, said the Government was committed to providing the best possible quality of care to our vulnerable older Australians.
“Aged Care workers are the backbone of the care and services provided to older Australians, which is why we continue to invest in growing and upskilling the workforce,” Minister Colbeck said.
“They continue to show their dedication and resilience in caring for older Australians during the COVID 19 pandemic, whether it’s through achieving one of the highest workforce vaccination rates in the world or a myriad of other ways.”
“The payments will provide additional encouragement to continue working through the pandemic and will help to attract additional workers into aged care.”
Those workers employed on 28 February 2022 will receive a bonus payment of up to $400, with another instalment of up to $400 made to workers employed on 28 April 2022.
Aged care providers will apply for the payments and will pass on the assessment to employees.
“I encourage providers to make this payment to eligible employees as soon as possible after they have confirmation of the amount of the payment,” Minister Hunt said.
This Aged Care investment by the Morrison Government is the fourth workforce bonus with three payments already made totalling $393 million going to more than 230,000 workers.
The workforce support is in addition to the $18.3 billion commitment made by the Morrison Government in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, to ensure senior Australians receive the care, respect and dignity they deserve.
Australia's Economic Accelerator To Propel Economy
A new $1.6 billion economic accelerator will turn Australia’s leading research into world-beating businesses as part of the Morrison Government’s focus on building the country’s resilience.
Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) features as part of a $2.2 billion package to focus the commercialisation of the six national manufacturing priority areas – resources and critical minerals, food and beverage, medical products, recycling and clean energy, defence and space – bringing the country’s brightest business and academic minds together.
Together with a new $150 million expansion of CSIRO’s Main Sequence Ventures, the AEA will reshape research funding to emphasise projects with high potential for commercialisation that are directed at National Manufacturing Priorities and industry engagement.
The Prime Minister said the AEA would invest in projects as they progressed through the stages of their development.
“Stronger commercialisation of research and ideas will mean a stronger economy and a stronger future for Australia,” the Prime Minister said.
“This is about funding projects to bridge the ‘valley of death’ where early-stage research is often not progressed due to higher levels of risk and uncertainty.
“The AEA will drive our universities and businesses to work hand-in-glove through the stages to prove projects’ viability and potential.
“Expanding the CSIRO’s Main Sequence Ventures program then takes this further, incentivising the additional venture capital investment support needed to progress innovative new products and technologies through to market to become the new businesses and employers of the future.”
Acting Minister for Education and Youth Stuart Robert said the AEA would boost investment in two critical stages of experimental development: proof of concept and proof of scale.
“The AEA will become a critical source of competitive funding support for innovating new projects with high commercial potential, and will take a lot of the risk and uncertainty for universities out of the equation,” Minister Robert said.
“We will start with a big range of contenders – a contest of ideas.
“But as we progress to stage two, the number of applicants will diminish and the value of the funding to each will increase.
“For example, stage one will involve nearly 100 grants a year of up to $500,000. Recipients will be required to engage industry through in-kind support or even co-location.
“In order to be one of the 36 recipients attracting up to $5 million in funding as part of ‘stage two’ projects, industry will need to put more skin in the game with a 50 per cent co-investment.
“At stage three, up to 50 companies will be supported through the Main Sequence Venture, where we are providing $150 million in two successive co-investment funds.
“This investment is about new jobs, increased wages, and creating products that make life easier, more efficient or even more interesting,” Minister Robert said.
Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the grants were an investment in Australia’s future industries and smart manufacturing within the Morrison Government’s National Manufacturing Priorities.
“By working with industry and researchers, the government is helping to ensure our economy benefits from our world-class research, both now and well into the future,” Minister Taylor said.
Minister for Science and Technology Melissa Price said the $150 million expansion of the CSIRO Main Sequence Ventures program would back start-up companies and help create commercial opportunities from Australian research.
“The Morrison Government is prioritising investment in research and action to turn Australia’s best ideas into new industries and strengthen our future prosperity,” Minister Price said.
“The expansion of the Main Sequence Ventures will further support the development of spin-off and start-up companies with high commercial potential arising from local research.
“Over the past four years, Main Sequence Ventures has invested in 39 companies that are commercialising deep tech opportunities that have created more than 1,200 technology-related jobs.
“Our new investment in this program will ensure it can play a bigger role in our economy and help develop the next generation of great Aussie companies and products.”
Minister Robert said the Morrison Government would also invest $296 million in industry focused PhDs and fellowships to support its research commercialisation goals and drive greater university-industry collaboration.
“This new scheme will generate 1,800 industry PhDs and over 800 industry fellows over 10 years to fundamentally reshape the workforce of Australia’s universities,” Minister Robert said.
“PhD students will benefit from the experience of undertaking research within industry settings, creating employment pathways beyond academic roles.
“Industry will benefit from the opportunities to host PhD students, bolstering their ability to harness ideas and concepts for innovation, as well as to open the pathway to the recruitment of high-calibre graduates. This will be further enhanced by a new suite of ARC Fellowships that will recognise and reward our academics who collaborate with industry, helping to drive the translation of their research, creating new pathways for their work.
“These initiatives will change the culture and the focus of research across Australia’s universities – building greater engagement with industry and ensuring that innovation is at the core of our economic future as a nation.”