Coalition enters 48th Parliament with lowest ever seat tally in its history
The Coalition has its lowest ever tally as a Liberal-National entity at 43 seats.
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Perth Now
25 minutes ago
- Perth Now
‘Tainted': Latham looms as inquiry resumes
A strange alliance including the Coalition and the unions stand in the way of Labor and its workers compensation reform, but it's one of its most vocal opponents – Mark Latham – who is taking the spotlight. The second hearing into Labor's controversial workers compensation reforms will get underway on Tuesday morning, after the Bill was sent back for a further inquiry by the NSW upper house earlier this year. The state government says the reforms are integral to ensuring the workers compensation scheme is financially viable and will protect workers, while opponents claim it will abandon the most vulnerable. The hearing comes as independent MLC Mark Latham, who is a member of the committee and helped refer it, faces a series of bruising scandals, including allegations he abused his former partner. Mark Latham has become embroiled in controversy. NewsWire/ Jeremy Piper. Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Latham has repeatedly denied the allegations, which are untested and part of an application for a private apprehended violence order (AVO) filed by his ex-partner, Nathalie Matthews, with the local court. Mr Latham has not been charged with any criminal offence. The Liberals have accused the state government of attempting to 'discredit' amendments to Labor's reforms, put forward by Mr Latham and the opposition, 'on the basis that Mr Latham's name is attached to them'. Shadow treasurer Damien Tudehope condemned Mr Latham's behaviour but noted the amendments were put forward before the allegations were made and defended talks with Mr Latham on the amendments. 'Mark Latham is an elected member of parliament,' he said. 'The dynamic of the manner in which the upper house operates is that I've got to deal with all people in the upper house, notwithstanding that they do and say things that I don't agree with and would never endorse. Treasurer Daniel Mookhey has so far rejected the proposed amendments. NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia 'But, at the same time, I need to, in fact, occupy my position as the leader of the Opposition in the upper house and achieve outcomes which I think deliver better results for legislation throughout.' Mr Tudehope said Mr Latham had 'tainted the whole of this process by what has occurred in relation to a whole lot of other issues', in regard to the proposed amendments. Greens MLC Abigail Boyd told the ABC the party had not made 'agreements or amendments with Mr Latham of any kind', and criticised Premier Chris Minns for singling out Mr Latham's role in the amendments. 'It's really telling that the moment that these particular revelations came out, the first thing they (Labor) did was call on the Coalition and the Greens to no longer 'work with Mark Latham on a particular bill',' she said. Ms Boyd told ABC 702 host Hamish McDonald that Mr Latham had been 'very unfairly attacking' her for a long time, and that assertions that she was now working with the former Labor leader was 'very offensive'. NSW shadow treasurer Damien Tudehope said their amendments would save 'marginally less' than Labor's. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia Treasurer Daniel Mookhey has so far rejected the proposed amendments, telling reporters on Friday modelling from iCare of some of the proposed amendments would 'punish workers' and increase premiums. 'My message is clear to the Liberal Party: side with small business, side with victims of sexual harassment. Don't side with Mark Latham,' he said. The modelling reportedly found the preposed amendments put the burden on victims of sexual and racial harassment, as well as bullying, by requiring that they prove the perpetrator intended to harm them. Mr Tudehope said their own modelling showed the amendments would achieve savings 'marginally less' than those the government claims it will deliver. The government said the proposed legislation will address a 'lack of focus on preventing psychological injury' at work, adding: 'Just 50 per cent of workers with psychological claims are back at work within a year. For physical injuries, the rate is 95 per cent.' The hearing will get underway on Tuesday morning.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Mark Latham looms large as NSW workers compensation reform inquiry resumes
A strange alliance including the Coalition and the unions stand in the way of Labor and its workers compensation reform, but it's one of its most vocal opponents – Mark Latham – who is taking the spotlight. The second hearing into Labor's controversial workers compensation reforms will get underway on Tuesday morning, after the Bill was sent back for a further inquiry by the NSW upper house earlier this year. The state government says the reforms are integral to ensuring the workers compensation scheme is financially viable and will protect workers, while opponents claim it will abandon the most vulnerable. The hearing comes as independent MLC Mark Latham, who is a member of the committee and helped refer it, faces a series of bruising scandals, including allegations he abused his former partner. Mr Latham has repeatedly denied the allegations, which are untested and part of an application for a private apprehended violence order (AVO) filed by his ex-partner, Nathalie Matthews, with the local court. Mr Latham has not been charged with any criminal offence. The Liberals have accused the state government of attempting to 'discredit' amendments to Labor's reforms, put forward by Mr Latham and the opposition, 'on the basis that Mr Latham's name is attached to them'. Shadow treasurer Damien Tudehope condemned Mr Latham's behaviour but noted the amendments were put forward before the allegations were made and defended talks with Mr Latham on the amendments. 'Mark Latham is an elected member of parliament,' he said. 'The dynamic of the manner in which the upper house operates is that I've got to deal with all people in the upper house, notwithstanding that they do and say things that I don't agree with and would never endorse. 'But, at the same time, I need to, in fact, occupy my position as the leader of the Opposition in the upper house and achieve outcomes which I think deliver better results for legislation throughout.' Mr Tudehope said Mr Latham had 'tainted the whole of this process by what has occurred in relation to a whole lot of other issues', in regard to the proposed amendments. Greens MLC Abigail Boyd told the ABC the party had not made 'agreements or amendments with Mr Latham of any kind', and criticised Premier Chris Minns for singling out Mr Latham's role in the amendments. 'It's really telling that the moment that these particular revelations came out, the first thing they (Labor) did was call on the Coalition and the Greens to no longer 'work with Mark Latham on a particular bill',' she said. Ms Boyd told ABC 702 host Hamish McDonald that Mr Latham had been 'very unfairly attacking' her for a long time, and that assertions that she was now working with the former Labor leader was 'very offensive'. Treasurer Daniel Mookhey has so far rejected the proposed amendments, telling reporters on Friday modelling from iCare of some of the proposed amendments would 'punish workers' and increase premiums. 'My message is clear to the Liberal Party: side with small business, side with victims of sexual harassment. Don't side with Mark Latham,' he said. The modelling reportedly found the preposed amendments put the burden on victims of sexual and racial harassment, as well as bullying, by requiring that they prove the perpetrator intended to harm them. Mr Tudehope said their own modelling showed the amendments would achieve savings 'marginally less' than those the government claims it will deliver. The government said the proposed legislation will address a 'lack of focus on preventing psychological injury' at work, adding: 'Just 50 per cent of workers with psychological claims are back at work within a year. For physical injuries, the rate is 95 per cent.' The hearing will get underway on Tuesday morning.
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
Unions to demand employers be forbidden from using AI for ‘mass redundancies'
The Australian Council of Trade Unions will demand that employers guarantee workers' job security before introducing artificial intelligence into their businesses in a bold proposal that will inflame tensions before the Albanese government's productivity roundtable next month. The council's assistant secretary Joseph Mitchell will use a speech on Tuesday to send a message that the union movement expects Labor to push through legislation to bar the use of AI at businesses that cannot reach agreements with their employees. 'It is necessary to have a comprehensive AI act to ensure that such bad-faith uses of this technology are protected against,' Mitchell will say in a speech to the Melbourne University Productivity Flash Forum, according to draft speech notes seen by this masthead. 'Workers will be all in if they know doing so will not cost them their jobs.' Business groups have argued that artificial intelligence presents a multibillion-dollar opportunity for Australia to improve its productivity, arguing it will allow workers to be redeployed to higher-skilled jobs and calling for any safeguards not to impede the uptake of the technology. Treasurer Jim Chalmers will host the roundtable from August 19 to 21 to address Australia's flatlining productivity, hoping it will generate ideas for economic reform. Loading A similar summit hosted by the Albanese government at the start of its first term contributed to the legislation of key union priorities such as letting labour organisations bargain across multiple employers, upsetting business groups. Mitchell will argue that the biggest productivity gains come from businesses that use AI in a consultative way and respect workers' skills. 'Employers should be required to reach AI-implementation agreements with their staff before new technologies are introduced into workplaces,' Mitchell will say, saying agreements should include requirements on job security, privacy and retraining.
