Australia politics live: union warns banks to respect WFH requests; NSW Nationals expected to scrap net zero pledge | Australia news
Financial union warns banks to review WFH policies
Jonathan Barrett
The Financial Industry Association has warned employers they could be in breach of workplace law if they refuse requests for flexible working without proper consideration, consultation or justification.
The FSU correspondence, sent to financial institutions across Australia, follows a Fair Work Commission decision last month that furloughed the Westpac employee: Karlene Chandlerworking from home, breaking the bank’s order to go to the corporate office two days a week.
Westpac was found to have breached several procedural requirements in responding to Chandler’s request. The bank also unsuccessfully argued that there were reasonable business grounds to reject the application.
The FSU member, who has young children, relied on a section of the Fair Work Act that allows eligible employees with caring responsibilities to make such claims.
FSU assistant national secretary Nicole McPhersonin question:
We told every major bank to get their house in order, fix rejected work-from-home requests, comply with the law, and stop acting like flexibility is a privilege.
Westpac broke the law by ignoring the rights of its own employees and we advise all other banks that they cannot do the same.
Westpac said earlier this week it was assessing its response to the decision and would decide its next steps in the coming weeks.
The bank defended its office policies, describing it as “one of the most flexible work-from-home positions on the market.”
important events
Murray Watt he still believes the government’s environmental protection bills can be passed by parliament this year (with only five full days of joint session remaining, including today).
Does this mean something has changed? Not exactly.
Watt told ABC News Breakfast he was negotiating with the Coalition and the Greens and was trying to deal a blow to the Greens, who will vote against the bill in Parliament today. Barnaby Joyce.
There will be a Senate committee holding three days of hearings to examine the bill before the final session week, which begins on November 24. Watt’s statement is as follows:
I have had further discussions with both the Coalition and the Greens this week and I expect this to continue over the next two weeks… [It’s] It’s a bit tough for the Coalition at the moment. They’re very divided on net zero and I think that gets in the way of their ability to really focus on these laws… this is an opportunity for the Greens over the next two weeks to put aside the sort of block and bust game that they’ve started.
Watt says what the parties have told him behind closed doors is “a little more moderate than the narrative being perpetuated in the media” and urges them to lock in and reach an agreement.
‘Be better than the sophomores,’ says Pocock at question time
Independent David PocockHaving watched a lot of drama in the Senate himself (follow here), he reflects on yesterday’s drama in the chamber, where some accusations of “liars” were thrown around.
In a panel on the Today program this morning, Pocock says the behavior at the time was generally “disgraceful”.
He also points out that we often do not learn much from questions and answers.
I think question time is often embarrassing, question time is not answer time, you ask questions, most of the time you don’t get much of an answer… you have to sit and listen to people yelling at each other and you don’t learn much. It was quite disappointing. And You’d hope politicians could hold themselves to a slightly higher standard than two- or three-year classes.
pioneer of the Labor Party, Amanda RishworthJoining Pocock on the panel, he described it as a “loud day in politics” and admitted his six-year-old was “probably behaving better”.
Question time can get a little boisterous when passions are high… but of course we can all do better.
Krishani Dhanji
Good morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you, thank you Martin Farrer for starting us.
This is the last sitting day of the fortnight and there is only one week of joint sittings left before parliament closes sittings for the year (from Monday 24 November).
The biggest item still on the government’s agenda is the Environmental Protection Bill, which was discussed a lot in the parliament yesterday and should be passed by this parliament today (but we would like to remind you that there is still no way for the government to pass it in the Senate). For liberals, it is of course a matter of coming to a position on energy and net zero. Time is ticking.
Today we will probably see some more reaction to the debate yesterday, during questioning in parliament, where the two major parties exchanged sarcastic remarks and called each other liars (boo!).
Stay with us, it’s going to be a busy day.
Anne Davies
NSW Nationals leader says nothing ‘off the table’ on energy policy
In order to prevent a possible rebellion among its members, NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders this week he said the state would “take nothing off the table” when it comes to energy policy.
One option is to change the commitment to something more mediocre, such as reaching the target in the second half of the century and also aggressively pursuing nuclear energy, which is not part of the 2020 road map.
The likely abandonment of the pledge would deal another blow to the beleaguered Liberal leader. Mark SpeakmanHe is a firm supporter of the 2020 Energy road map.
The road map was designed by the former energy minister and his close colleague. Matt Keanhe is currently chairman of the Climate Change Authority.
The Minns Labor government has gone ahead with implementing the roadmap, but critics in the National Party say it has done so without considering the impacts on rural communities.
Depending on what the outcome is, the issue could lead to a leadership struggle. Paul TooleHe is the leader before Saunders and represents the more conservative wing of the party.
This could also break the Coalition agreement.
Saunders has sought to work with Coalition partners despite growing friction over feral horses in Kosciuszko national park, Greater Koala national park, controls on poker machines and more recently over wind farms and energy policies.
But energy policy is a central issue and the National Party’s abandonment of net zero would put enormous pressure on the Coalition.
Some Liberals fear a move away from net zero would leave the NSW Liberals facing the same kind of wipeout by turquoise independents in centrist seats.
The alternative of leaving the National Party is also being discussed, but this could leave the Liberals without a clear path back to government for a decade.
NSW Citizens likely to abandon net zero emissions pledge
Anne Davies
The NSW National Party looks set to formally abandon its net-zero emissions pledge at its caucus meeting next Tuesday, following similar moves by the federal party this week.
The move will create further turmoil for the NSW Coalition, which is already dealing with a leadership crisis and falling poll numbers due to brand damage caused by federal infighting.
Sources said the National Party chamber will receive a briefing on Monday from the author of the report supporting the federal National Party’s decision last week to move away from net zero.
Senator Ross Cadell He will brief the party on the findings of the Page Research Center on the National Party. Review led by Cadell and senators Matt CanavanIt concluded that “the net zero commitment no longer serves the interests of the Australian people”.
“Electricity and gas prices have increased by approximately 40 per cent since Australia committed to its net zero target,” the report states.
In June, the NSW Nationals grassroots party voted overwhelmingly to abandon net zero, with the motion’s author arguing there was no point in having targets without a clear path to get there.
However, the vote was not binding on the party in parliament.
On Tuesday the party will formally consider its stance amid anger among citizens over the impacts on rural communities.
Financial union warns banks to review WFH policies
Jonathan Barrett
The Financial Industry Association has warned employers they could be in breach of workplace law if they refuse requests for flexible working without proper consideration, consultation or justification.
The FSU correspondence, sent to financial institutions across Australia, follows a Fair Work Commission decision last month that furloughed the Westpac employee: Karlene Chandlerworking from home, breaking the bank’s order to go to the corporate office two days a week.
Westpac was found to have breached several procedural requirements in responding to Chandler’s request. The bank also unsuccessfully argued that there were reasonable business grounds to reject the application.
The FSU member, who has young children, relied on a section of the Fair Work Act that allows eligible employees with caring responsibilities to make such claims.
FSU assistant national secretary Nicole McPhersonin question:
We told every major bank to get their house in order, fix rejected work-from-home requests, comply with the law, and stop acting like flexibility is a privilege.
Westpac broke the law by ignoring the rights of its own employees and we advise all other banks that they cannot do the same.
Westpac said earlier this week it was assessing its response to the decision and would decide its next steps in the coming weeks.
The bank defended its office policies, describing it as “one of the most flexible work-from-home positions on the market.”
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I Martin Farrerbrings you the best of the nightly news and then Krishani Dhanji to complete an action-packed two-week session.
The NSW National Party looks set to follow the federal party’s example and formally abandon its pledge to reach net zero when the party meets next Tuesday. Such a move would intensify the crisis in the party, which has been struggling with weak poll numbers under its leader. Dugald Saunders. More on that in a moment.
minister of aged care Sam RaeIt says the time people had to wait to be assessed on home care packages fell to 23 days in the last quarter, thanks to the government’s reforms to the “historically complex” system. On the ABC’s 7.30pm show last night he said he wanted an “agile” process but accepted that the average would not be everyone’s experience. More details coming soon.
And the bank workers’ union has written to financial institutions warning them to respect flexible working requests following a landmark decision on WFH.
