|
|
The eternal political minefield that is industrial relations has come alive again this week with the government releasing a set of reforms. But this time, writes Michelle Grattan, something very unusual has happened: while Labor threw up its arms at the government’s omnibus bill – particularly the Better Off Overall Test – it also worked with the government and parts of the union to pass a bill that makes a “hit” on CFMMEU bad boy John Setka.
The upshot of this bill passing is that next year, the mining division will head out of the powerful union and the manufacturing division may follow. It will weaken the union, but those who leave will be able to do their jobs more normally.
The omnibus bill is far more complicated. It traverses wide ground, from the treatment of casuals and changes to enterprise bargaining to stronger penalties for wage theft and underpayment. The bill won’t be voted on until February or March 2021, and politically there is much at stake for the Coalition – with the WorkChoices debacle still fresh in the minds of many – and Labor, which is flagging in the polls and hoping IR might offer it a boost in traditionally strong terrain.
|
Amanda Dunn
Section Editor: Politics + Society
|
|
|
James Ross/AAP
Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
If we remain relatively virus-free, politics in 2021 should become more normal than in 2020. And that will affect strategies on both sides.
|
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Elise Klein, Australian National University
Senators have granted a two-year extension to a program for which there is little supporting evidence.
|
AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
Matt McDonald, The University of Queensland
If Scott Morrison announces he'll scrap the controversial Kyoto carryover credits tomorrow, our international counterparts will still regard Australia as a climate change laggard.
|
Shutterstock
Rebecca Rockett, University of Sydney; Alicia Arnott, University of Sydney; Fabienne Brilot-Turville, University of Sydney
Compared with other RNA viruses, the coronavirus is actually quite stable. So don't believe the scary headlines about the 'mutant coronavirus'.
|
Des Willie Netflix
Giselle Bastin, Flinders University
The chorus of disapproving voices declaiming The Crown's approach to royal storytelling are angling for the biographers' holy grail and seeking to protect their own lucrative market share.
|
Science + Technology
|
-
Hamish McCallum, Griffith University; Austin H. Patton, University of California, Berkeley
Ten years ago, we feared Tasmanian devils would be wiped out by a bizarre infectious facial cancer transmitted by biting. But new genetic analysis shows they are evolving to live with the disease.
-
Michael Walker, Macquarie University
The departure of AI ethics researcher Timnit Gebru from Google highlights attempts to make algorithmic decision-making accountable.
|
|
Business + Economy
|
-
Deborah Ralston, Monash University
Super helps fund homeownership, and homeownership helps retirees get the pension.
-
Sommer Kapitan, Auckland University of Technology; Amanda Spry, RMIT University; Jessica Vredenburg, Auckland University of Technology; Joya Kemper
B2B brands taking a public moral or ethical stand are increasingly looking at their suppliers and manufacturers to reflect their own values, but where do they draw the line?
|
|
Cities
|
-
Samuel Alexander, University of Melbourne; Brendan Gleeson, University of Melbourne
Walking all parts of Melbourne before and after the pandemic hit was eye-opening. It brought home just how much change is possible if we wish for a better, more sustainable way of living.
|
|
Education
|
-
Geoff Sharrock, University of Melbourne
Enshrining the Model Code on Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom in legislation won't ensure disagreements on campus remain civil. Here are some practical guidelines on how to disagree well.
-
Marilyn Campbell, Queensland University of Technology; Amanda Third, Western Sydney University
The Education Minister Dan Tehan has said research shows mobile phone bans have a positive effect on academic performance. But this is not necessarily true.
|
|
Arts + Culture
|
-
Jen Webb, University of Canberra
These two prize-winning books speak volumes about how we face trying times, might recognise the beauty in brokenness and maybe find ways to repair the wounds of the past.
-
Joanna Mendelssohn, University of Melbourne
For over 60 years, Daniel Thomas has shaped and extended our understanding of Australian art. Sometimes cheeky, always erudite, Thomas's writings are collected in a new book.
|
|
Health + Medicine
|
-
Kirsty Wilson, RMIT University; Magdalena Plebanski, RMIT University
The reason the vaccine appears to have worked better in participants who initially received only half a dose is still somewhat of a mystery.
|
|
Politics + Society
|
-
Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
A government-dominated parliamentary committee has recommended the voting system for federal elections should become optional preferential and pre-polling should be reduced from three to two weeks.
-
Megan Carroll, Australian Institute of Family Studies; Diana Warren, Australian Institute of Family Studies; Jennifer A. Baxter, Australian Institute of Family Studies; Kelly Hand, Australian Institute of Family Studies
A new study reveals Australians felt both more connected to immediate family and more distant from others because of restrictions. The financial cost for many families has also been high.
-
Richard Baka, Victoria University
New sports are being added to the Olympics all the time in an effort to remain relevant to younger audiences, while others (sorry baseball) are left out.
|
|
|
Featured jobs
|
|
|
|
— Melbourne VIC, Australia
|
|
— Melbourne VIC, Australia
|
|
— Townsville City, QLD, Australia
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Featured Events & Courses
|
|
8 week online course by BehaviourWorks Australia, Victoria, Australia — Monash University
|
|
Online, Free webinar, Victoria, 3000, Australia — Australia New Zealand School of Government
|
|
Online, Melbourne, Victoria, 3145, Australia — Monash University
|
|
Online, Online, Victoria, 3145, Australia — Monash University
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|