Demerit system for bad union behaviour wins business backing
Industrial relations

Demerit system for bad union behaviour wins business backing

The influential mining lobby group,the Minerals Council of Australia,has backed proposed changes to a controversial industrial relations bill that would see union officials and unions that breach workplace laws accrue penalty points.

  • byDarren Gray andDavid Crowe

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Porter mulls removal of union merger restriction to pass IR bill
Industrial relations

Porter mulls removal of union merger restriction to pass IR bill

Attorney-General Christian Porter will"closely examine"a proposal to drop a public interest test on union mergers from the government's industrial relations laws.

  • byDana McCauley
'Insufficient evidence':AFP drops investigation into John Setka
Exclusive
Setka scandal

'Insufficient evidence':AFP drops investigation into John Setka

Federal police have dropped their investigation into John Setka over allegations he criminally threatened crossbench senators in a bid to sway their vote.

  • byDana McCauley
Eleven MPs form group to advocate for Julian Assange's return to Australia
Assange saga

Eleven MPs form group to advocate for Julian Assange's return to Australia

The federal MPs have formed a working group to advocate for the return of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to Australia.

  • byRob Harris
'An open secret':Government urged to release Parliament cyber attack report
Cyber security

'An open secret':Government urged to release Parliament cyber attack report

A detailed report on the Parliament cyber attack is said to blame a Chinese ministry,but the government is reluctant to release an unclassified version.

  • byMax Koslowski
Government weighs more changes to union-busting bill to gain Senate support
Industrial relations

Government weighs more changes to union-busting bill to gain Senate support

Christian Porter is considering making further concessions to union-busting legislation after Rex Patrick demanded more changes to safeguard workers'rights.

  • byDana McCauley
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'I won't be swayed by threats':Crossbenchers consider referring Setka comments to police
Industrial relations

'I won't be swayed by threats':Crossbenchers consider referring Setka comments to police

Key crossbench senators have condemned union leader John Setka's remarks over their response to the government's industrial relations bill.

  • byDana McCauley
Porter prepared to give up ministerial power in order to pass union bill
Industrial relations

Porter prepared to give up ministerial power in order to pass union bill

Christian Porter may sacrifice his power to deregister law-breaking unions if it will enable the government to pass its union-busting legislation.

  • byDana McCauley
Australia may bar China-backed firm from a mine it owns on a missile site
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Defence spending

Australia may bar China-backed firm from a mine it owns on a missile site

Defence Department rejects China-linked bid to mine iron ore near key weapons testing site,raising possibility of taxpayer funded buy back.

  • byRichard Baker andChris Uhlmann
'They're morally corrupt':Crossbenchers slam politics and take on Crown
Crown Unmasked

'They're morally corrupt':Crossbenchers slam politics and take on Crown

Federal crossbenchers have lashed out at"morally corrupt"politicians who are not heeding calls for a more powerful commission to investigate corruption.

  • byDavid Crowe
'A perception of a problem,rather than a real problem':Kingmaker senator questions level of religious discrimination
Religious freedom

'A perception of a problem,rather than a real problem':Kingmaker senator questions level of religious discrimination

Rex Patrick may have a critical vote when it comes to religious discrimination in Parliament. He wonders if Australia has become"too sensitive".

  • byJudith Ireland