Some months ago I happened by chance to find myself sitting at a dinner function next to a senior company executive of a large firm named in the Royal Commission into Union Corruption. Evidence at the Commission revealed that his company had made secret payments to a union in return for certain ‘favours’. He was one of the executives involved in decisions to make the payments.
The discussion between he and I was somewhat explosive to the extent he stood up and left just as entrée was being served. (I think it was rather fine slices of ham with melon.) More...
From the Desk of the Executive Director
Ken Phillips is co-founder and Executive Director of Independent Contractors of Australia. He is a published authority on independent contractor issues and directs research on related commercial and trade practices issues. Through his numerous articles in newspapers and think-tank and academic journals, Ken is known for approaching issues from outside normal perspectives and is frequently sought out for media comment.
Turnbull's corruption fix
Victoria must brace for an election wrecking ball
In many respects, Victorian voters will have to choose between a Coalition government and a CFMEU-controlled Labor government at the looming state election.
The CFMEU has dominated the headlines in recent weeks, with evidence from the Royal Commission into union corruption unearthing serious allegations that it has engaged in potentially criminal behaviour. Its links with prominent crime figures have also come under scrutiny. More...
Victorian Construction Code to change construction practices
The violent Grocon construction dispute of the last few weeks needs to be seen in a much wider context than has so far been reported. Every construction executive needs to be alert to the significant implications for their business model and business futures over what's happened at Grocon. More...
Can Baillieu stop the desal drain?
The Brumby government's surprise defeat in Victoria has been blamed on several factors. One element is the allegation of widespread waste---the most well known example would probably be the $5.7 billion desalination plant. More...
Don't dump the ABCC
It looks like the Australian construction industry has stumbled onto another two years of good luck. The Rudd government's legislation to undo the Howard government's construction-specific laws has failed to pass the Senate and is unlikely to do so before the next federal election. More...
Back to the bad old days
Violence appears to have re-emerged on Victorian construction sites. In the past few weeks, ordinary construction workers and their families have allegedly been threatened and several violent incidents have been reported---the history of the construction sector makes it reasonable to suggest that this is just the beginning. More...
Recent Posts
- Changes give taxman licence to monster small business
- When the Taxman proves to be a monster
- Some revolutionary thoughts for the New Year
- At last a fair deal for hard-working subbies
- Gig economy and unfair contract laws suit self-employed
- Why the new unfair contract laws are good news for soloists
- Truckies’ Act a dog that may bark again
- Why is Wesfarmers so opposed to the ‘effects test’?
- Small business is losing confidence in the ATO
- Big firms aren’t budging on business behaviour
![]() Be Protected! |
Tags
- 457 visas (1)
- Abbott government (18)
- ACCC (4)
- advertising (2)
- ALP policy (15)
- Asian economies (3)
- ASIC (3)
- ATO (11)
- Australian politics (76)
- Australian Senate (4)
- Banking sector (1)
- big business (25)
- branding (1)
- Budget 2015 (1)
- business names (2)
- business-union ties (22)
- Canada (2)
- Canadian provinces (1)
- Car industry (5)
- CFMEU (9)
- China (2)
- Coalition policy (26)
- Collusion (17)
- communication (2)
- competition policy (7)
- computer/IT sector (6)
- construction (29)
- construction codes (7)
- contractor status (11)
- corporate welfare (7)
- corruption (4)
- defending our rights (43)
- disclosure requirements (2)
- dispute resolution (4)
- disruption (3)
- effects test (2)
- Election 2013 (10)
- Election 2019 (1)
- entrepreneurship (26)
- Europe (2)
- fair contracts (19)
- Fair Work Commission (1)
- finance (2)
- financial advisers (1)
- foreign workers (1)
- franchising (1)
- freelancing (9)
- Gig economy (3)
- Global economies (4)
- global news (12)
- govt-business ties (5)
- govt-union ties (8)
- Heydon Report (4)
- ICAC (1)
- illegal logging laws (2)
- independence (13)
- industrial relations (51)
- infrastructure (4)
- innovation (16)
- Inspector-General Taxation (1)
- Japan (1)
- job creation (15)
- Job security (13)
- Kenya (1)
- liberty (1)
- management capacity (6)
- misclassification laws (1)
- Morrison Government (1)
- MUA (2)
- National Broadband Network (3)
- national debt (1)
- New South Wales (1)
- OHS harmonisation (6)
- owner-drivers (5)
- penalty rates (2)
- productivity (11)
- Productivity Commission (1)
- profiles (4)
- red tape (5)
- research (5)
- Resources (1)
- responsibility (5)
- self-employment (38)
- shopping centres (2)
- Shorten Opposition (1)
- small business (57)
- small business commisioners (2)
- small business tax tribunal (1)
- stupid legislation (3)
- superannuation (5)
- taxation (11)
- technology (8)
- tradesmen (1)
- transparency (8)
- truckies (3)
- Turnbull Government (13)
- TWU (6)
- Uber (4)
- unemployment (1)
- union power (51)
- union violence (6)
- United Kingdom (3)
- United States (1)
- US politics (1)
- Victoria (10)
- Victorian election (2)
- Western Australia (1)
- white australia (1)
- work flexibility (8)
- work safety (8)
- worker's compensation (1)
- work-life balance (7)
- workplace interaction (1)
Small Cost, Big Benefits