South Australian plan great for energy security and jobs, but lessons of privatisation failures must be learnt The union representing power workers has commended the South Australian Government’s $550 million plan to improve energy security through the construction of the nation’s largest battery storage project, a new 250MW gas-fired power plant, and increased powers for…
Dob in an Unlicensed Tradie Approximately 60 reports have been received so far by Consumer Business Services. Providing accurate details and evidence helps CBS progress action against those without a licence. To better protect consumers and the building sector we are encouraging the public to report tradespeople who are operating without a licence or…
NewAccess – a free and confidential support service NewAccess is a free and confidential support program where specially trained and experienced coaches provide up to six free coaching sessions to help people tackle the day to day pressures of life. It’s ideal for people who are having a difficult time coping, including those with…
Unions Blast Minister at Launch of Inpex Court Action Media release, Thursday 16 March 2017 Two major trade unions have slammed the federal government’s construction industry regime as ineffective as they launch an application in the Fair Work Commission to recover the entitlements of 850 people left jobless by the shock collapse of a second…
ABCC chaos puts construction industry on the verge of shutdown Dan Nancarro, ETU Australia, 8 March 2017 The ETU warns the construction industry is on the verge of shutdown as the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC)’s failure to process enterprise bargaining agreements for compliance to the new Building Code throws the industry into chaos.…
From public good to profit margin: how privatisation is failing our communities David Hetherington, The Guardian, 6 March 2017 In parts of Australia a quiet tragedy is slowly unfolding. Families already beset by adversity are seeing their last shreds of hope and comfort carefully dismantled. And it’s happening under the shield of one of the…
Penalty rates: Labor says it makes ‘no apology’ for Bill Shorten’s decision to oppose cut Gabrielle Chan, The Guardian, Sunday 5 March 2017 The shadow employment minister, Brendan O’Connor, has defended Labor’s decision to step away from the Fair Work Commission’s penalty rate decision as unions meet this week to plan a Work Choices-style campaign…
Return to public ownership of national electricity grid would reduce costs, says economist Will Ockenden, www.abc.net.au, Friday 3 March, 2017 A publicly owned electricity grid is the only way to put a cap on costs, keep energy competitive and solve the country’s energy crisis, according to an economics expert. Professor John Quiggin says the creation…