Greens call on ALP to back family and domestic violence bill

Greens spokesperson for employment Adam Bandt MP today welcomed Labor’s announcement to match Greens policy to legislate for 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave, but said instead of waiting till the next election, Bill Shorten should get behind the Greens’ bill and pass the bill the next time Parliament sits.

Greens to legislate for family and domestic violence leave

The Greens are stepping up pressure on the old parties to support family and domestic violence leave, introducing a bill to Parliament to legislate ten days’ leave.

Mr Bandt released the bill over the weekend as the Australia marked the annual White Ribbon Day of the campaign to prevent men's violence against women.

AWU raids are a dark day for democracy: Bandt

Greens industrial relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today said that the AWU raids mark a dark day for democracy and the rule of law. The Greens opposed the establishment of the Registered Organisations Commission and continue to call for a national broad based independent anti-corruption watchdog instead.

“These raids mark a dark day for democracy and the rule of law in this country,” said Mr Bandt.

Penalty Rates decision shows labour laws broken and parliament must now override cuts: Bandt 

Our labour laws are broken if they allow cuts to the wages of low paid workers and Parliament must now step in and back the Greens' move to override cuts to penalty rates, Greens workplace relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP said today. 

Unions have lost their legal bid to overturn the Fair Work Commission's decision to cut penalty rates for hospitality, retail and fast-food workers.

Greens call for Royal Commission into Underpayment of Penalty Rates and Other Wage Theft

Following the release of a Senate Inquiry into penalty rates, Greens spokesperson for industrial relations Adam Bandt MP today announced that the Greens are calling for a Royal Commission to fully investigate the extent of wage theft and below-award payment in Australia.

It's becoming apparent that failings in our industrial laws have allowed some of Australia's biggest companies to pay workers at below award rates," said Mr Bandt. 

Murdoch University EBA termination shows employment laws are broken & urgent change required: Bandt

Greens employment spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today said that the recent decision of the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to terminate Murdoch University’s Enterprise Agreement shows the Fair Work Act is broken and requires urgent legislative change. Equally concerning is Minister Birmingham’s insidious encouragement for other universities to follow suit.

“This unfair termination shows that our employment laws are broken,” said Mr Bandt.

Turnbull's public service crackdown is straight from the Trump playbook: Bandt

Greens employment spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today slammed reports in The Australian that the Turnbull government will impose restrictions on public servants criticising his government on social media.

"There must have been a few paragraphs missing from the leaked Trump/Turnbull transcript, because this latest crackdown on the public service is straight from the Trump playbook," said Mr Bandt.

The Australian Greens have called on the Government to implement local employment targets to ensure South Australians are prioritised for the thousands of jobs expected to be created in ship building from 2021.

“We’re being told it’s going to rain jobs in South Australia in 2021, but we’re in a drought at the moment. With a project that’s offering thousands of jobs, in a state where we have almost 60,000 people out of work, it is important that we look to supporting locals winning these jobs first and foremost,” Greens Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young said.

The Australian Greens have announced that they will move to establish a Senate inquiry into the government's 457 visa changes when parliament returns for the Budget in May.

"If Australia is going to attract the type of expertise, intelligence and experience that we need, we have to engage with our region and the wider international community," the Greens' finance and trade spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.